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Happy Fourth of July!

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 

 Time to celebrate! Tomorrow is our nation’s birthday, the day set aside to remember the sacrifices made by our forefathers on the battlefields of history … and the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of the United States.  

 As our years as an autonomous nation testify, freedom is critically important! And when it is jeopardized, we will stop at nothing to restore it. This collective resolve and commitment have sustained us for 245 years.  

 Freedom matters on a personal level, too. The truest freedom you will ever know is found in Jesus Christ. In this freedom, you find:  

 Peace.  

Our own attempts at lasting freedom often leave us falling short. But not so when Jesus is part of the equation!

When Jesus sets you free, you are free indeed. Free from the bonds of sin and death. Free to enjoy heaven here on earth … and an eternity with Jesus. Why worry? Why struggle under the weight and burden of guilt and shame? You are free 

 Power.  

Understanding true freedom is like flying a kite. As it tugs against the string, it catches the wind and soars into the sky. If the string breaks, it eventually crashes to the ground. To properly fly a kite, the wind and the string must work together.  

 In the same way, there is no freedom in life apart from God. Every other form is an illusion. We achieve the greatest desires of our lives only when we are safely enveloped in a loving and growing relationship with Him. True freedom is found as we allow God’s Word and His Holy Spirit to act as that kite string — providing restraint and guiding our every move, leading us to new heights in Christ Jesus.  

Purpose. 

On July 8, 1776, the Liberty Bell summoned citizens to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon. Engraved on the bell are these words, taken from Leviticus 25:10, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” How fitting that the bell that proclaimed our liberty was inscribed with such a verse!  

 God has the same purpose for our lives today — to proclaim the freedom that is ours through Jesus Christ to the world. Contagious Christianity is needed now more than ever. You can be a light in the darkness … and right now, at this date in history, you are free to do it.  

 My prayer this week—Father, thank you for the freedom you provide! Help me live in the peace and power it provides … and willingly share it with the world.