Thankful for Freedom
Freedom is a wonderful thing. Everyone seeks freedom. I am truly thankful to live in the United States of America and to enjoy all the freedoms associated with living in a free country. Unfortunately, I take those freedoms for granted more often than not. I fail to consider the cost so many have paid and will pay, to ensure the continued opportunity to be free.
Freedom, however, is much more than living in a free country. Freedom is much more than being free from political or economic oppression. Freedom is much more than the temporal freedoms we enjoy each and every day. True freedom is found only in Christ. Followers of Christ are free in Christ. In fact, Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). Prior to Christ’s death on the cross, the people of God lived under the law. The law was not able to give salvation nor produce true freedom. However, the law did point to the One who would give true freedom, Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:19-24). His sacrificial death on the cross fulfilled the demands of the law. It was through his death and the fulfillment of the law, believers were set free from the law of sin and death. True freedom indeed! Freedom in Christ sets us free from the oppressiveness of the law, it frees us from the penalty of sin-death, and is frees us from the power of sin.
In reality, the Bible says, spiritually speaking, no one is free (Romans 6). We are either slaves to sin or slaves to Christ. Being a slave of Christ, however, Christians know and have true freedom. Jesus himself said, “If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed” (John 8:36). Thus, being truly free can only be seen in light of a relationship with the One who sets us free, Christ Jesus. It seems a bit of a paradox to think of being free and a slave at the same time. However, once we are set free from being enslaved by the penalty and the power of sin, we are a different kind of slave. We are slaves of Christ. And only in that slavery does one find complete peace and true freedom.
As we celebrate our independence, my prayer is for you to have true freedom that comes only through a relationship with Jesus Christ. I pray you become a slave to Christ. It is only through being a slave of Christ that we enjoy true freedom.
God Bless,
