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| BANG! |
As a kid, July 4th was just about the greatest day (aside from Christmas and my birthday of course). What other day are you allowed - and even encouraged - to play with fire and blow stuff up? I loved it! Fire-crackers were my favorite - blowing up army men, hot-wheels, houses made from twigs and leaves, pincher-bugs . . . . Yes, pincher-bugs. They were the most fun! (you can imagine . . . those pincers were just right for holding fire-crackers).
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| It is for freedom that Christ set us free |
At the time, I really didn't care too much about the true reason for the celebration. As we get older, we realize that there is much more important things to celebrate than fire and explosives (although I still find those things to be great fun!).
Freedom is not free. It is gained by GREAT sacrifice. We show reverence and demonstrate respect for those who have gone before us and given sacrificially to secure the freedoms that we have as Americans. We honor those who are currently serving to maintain that freedom. We live in the land of the free BECAUSE it is the home of the brave.
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SPIRITUAL FREEDOM
Every year around this time, I can't help but think about the freedom that we have in Christ . . . and wonder . . . are we as zealous about our spiritual freedom as we are our political freedom?
It is for Freedom that Christ Set us Free [Galatians 5:1]. Freedom is something that we receive . . . Christ is the one who brings true freedom.
How do you view the idea of freedom and how does that relate to the freedom followers of God have in Christ?
Secular-Worldview: Freedom = Independence . . . Leaving the nest; going to college; living on
your own – out from under the rules and regulations of your parents. No one to tell you what do; where to go;
monitor your time on the phone; give a curfew – you’re FREE! INDEPENDENT!
It's the "freedom" that the younger son was seeking in Luke 15. No more restrictions. Give me what's coming to me and I will strike out on my own and live like a wish to live.
The world’s perspective is selfish in nature. I’m free to do what I want, when I want, how
I want and you can’t make a judgment on whether or not I should because I’M
FREE! In this worldly view of freedom,
moral truth is exchanged for immoral tolerance.
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| If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed |
Biblical-Worldview: Freedom = Dependence . . . One of the great ironies of the Christian
faith: we have been redeemed from our
slavery, our bondage, to sin, so that we can become the bond-slave of
Christ!
We are free to be a slave of
Christ! Through our freedom in Christ we
bind ourselves to the moral truth of God’s Word. That’s why Jesus said in John 8:32 that when
you know the truth; the truth will set you free.
In John 8:31-36 we learn that we were enslaved to sin (vs. 34) and we are set free by Jesus who is the Truth (vs. 36). Notice verses 31 & 32 . . . What is it that sets us free? TRUTH; and through what is TRUTH revealed? THE WORD; and if we continue in THE WORD, we will know the TRUTH and it will set us FREE.
So, we celebrate the freedom we have as Americans, but even if that freedom is taken away, we will still be FREE in Christ . . . For if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed!
Worship Minister, Gateway Christian Church - www.gcch3.com
