“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” ~ Galatians 5:13

Each July 4th, The United States collectively celebrates its freedom.

That freedom, which this nation so passionately protects, is one that gives each person the right to act, speak, or think as they want without hindrance or restraint. 

However, that freedom is a gift from God and was not meant to be spent on ourselves that we lead lives of self-indulgence, but that we lead sacrificial lives for the Glory of God and the benefit of others.

Pope John Paul II once rightly stated, “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.”

Each of us who have enjoyed the freedom which this nation affords us, will one day be held accountable for it.

Jesus said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” – Luke 12:48

You will stand before God to be judged, and He will ask you:

“Did you spend that freedom to serve yourself, or to serve my Son, Jesus Christ and the helpless, needy and lost?”

“Did you repent, turning from self-focus to self-denial?

“Did you place your complete faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, or did you wrongly believe that you could save yourself?”

In light of this inevitable day, I ask you:

What are you doing with your freedom?

Are you doing what you ought to do, our what you want to do?

Never forget that you are not called to “use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

The freedom that serves self is not freedom at all, rather, it is bondage to sin, and sin leads to the death of your eternal soul.

There is only one way that each person gains their freedom from sin and death, and that is through absolute surrender to Jesus Christ.

For Jesus said, “if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” 

I pray that today, you and I will surrender our pride and freedoms to humbly serve God and others; may we do so with the kindness, compassion, patience, forgiveness, grace, and truth of Jesus Christ, through the power of His Holy Spirit.

Amen.

 

Repent Believe Persevere

“We The People” image is from the blog post: “What Is the Declaration of Independence?” Surfnetkids. Feldman Publishing. 20 May. 2008. Web. 7 Jul. 2017.