Thought for Wednesdsay, July 4th

July 4, 2012

True Freedom

 Today is a blessed and wonderful day which we have set aside to celebrate and commemorate our Freedoms and Liberties as citizens of the United States of America.

And while with high regard, we hold these liberties and freedoms to be cherished and valued: and while we think, with gratitude, appreciation and honor, upon all those who have sacrificed and given so much to secure and ensure that these freedoms remain intact: for a few minutes I want to look at a freedom that is even greater and a liberty that is far more reaching than those which we posses as Americans;  I want to consider the freedom from death and the liberty of life in God that we have through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Our eternal and spiritual freedom cost God the life of His own beloved Son.  And it was not just the blood shed on the cross though it is through that very blood that our redemption and freedom was purchased: it was the reality that for a time God was separated from His Son, because Jesus took upon himself the sins of all humanity, which caused the Father to have to turn away and the Son, to cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.”

I would never intentionally diminish the significance of our freedoms and liberties as citizens of the United State: yet as great and wonderful as they are: they pale in comparison to the freedom and liberty we have as citizens of the eternal Kingdom of God.

I sometimes wonder what it would be like if we would put as much emotion, attention and enthusiasm into our celebrations of our spiritual freedom as we do our physical freedom how great of a difference we might be able to make in our world.

“The cause of freedom is the cause of God.”

-       Samuel Bowles

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:34-36

Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 10:29-33

All freedom is worthy of being celebrated and appreciated: yet I believe the greatest freedom of all is when we acknowledge and embrace the need to surrender and yield the very liberty and freedom we have to the very one who has made our freedom possible.  It is in the yielding and surrendering of our freedoms to His authority that we find our greatest potential for experiencing the fullness of what liberty can really be.

Today’s Prayer

Father, I am free because you love me and made a way to provide for my salvation: I am liberated when I learn to yield and surrender that freedom to your authority, guidance and control.  Help me to always be ready and willing to surrender to you.

“When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus “

-  Lyrics from ‘Heart of Worship’ by Matt Redman