Thursday, July 04, 2013

Celebrate Your Freedom in Christ Today!


Blake came to me yesterday and said, “Tomorrow is fireworks day! We get to pop firecrackers and shoot rockets!”  Indeed today is a pretty wonderful holiday. We are such a free people that we can celebrate this day any way we choose or not celebrate at all. But a day off is always good and family fun makes it even better.

The Declaration of Independence is the seal on the liberty of this great country. Nowhere have people had the freedom to live and breathe and enjoy their lives as we do in this country.  Long regarded as “the land of opportunity,” there’s no question the tiny band of religious outcasts who founded America hit upon a formula for success that went way beyond what they could have imagined. How else can you explain the fact that they established a nation that has become the best example of civil, economic and religious liberty the world has ever known?

Today as we celebrate with hot dogs, trips to the lake, fireworks, watermelon and all the family traditions this day brings, we must stop and give thanks to the One Who made us and this country what we are. Without God’s divine hand on the puritans who came here we would not have enjoyed all that we have.  True freedom is not the absence of God, but the blessings of God’s oversight, sovereignty and loving care.

Even though we live in a great country, for the believer, our citizenship is in heaven. Our liberty as well is found in Christ. Our allegiance is to God’s Word.  This is our formula for success. When we focus on the true foundation of our faith, we can celebrate not only this holiday, but everything else as well.  While the founding fathers fought for independence, we must remain totally dependent upon our God, for without that dependence we cannot hope to claim the rights of a citizen of heaven nor the blessings of a child of the Most High God.

Have you pledged your allegiance– to live in the light of His Word – so that you can see clearly no matter what life brings? Have you claimed your citizenship rights? Are you acquainted with all the responsibilities and blessings of heaven? Are you walking in the true Freedom of the One Who gave you life? People may disappoint, governments may erase freedoms, but God remains faithful to His own. Your life may have its troubles, trials and hurts, but you can rest in the promises of God and celebrate life in Christ no matter what.

Oh beloved, before the food, fellowship and fireworks, won’t you run to the Lord this morning and thank Him for His magnificent gifts? The gifts of liberty, of citizenship and of allegiance? He’s calling you to a greater freedom than you’ve ever known. He’s wooing you to remember who you belong to and where you allegiance lies. His Word is your necessary food to find strength for this day. Celebrate with the Lord this morning and let Him strengthen your heart, straighten your resolve and bless you beyond belief!
You are beloved and you are free- and you can live in the light of His Word!

Psalm 33:12 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His heritage. (Amplified)

Deuteronomy 4:7 For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on Him?

Psalm 146:5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God.

2 Corinthians 3:17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Philippians 3:20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.

Hebrews 13:15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name.

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