Celebrating Our Freedom
Dear Calvary Family,
This is the week we celebrate the incredible freedom that we have here in the United States of America. I’m so grateful for the rights and opportunities we have because we live in this country. I know that we have many flaws and struggles as a nation that we should be praying for with all of our hearts. I’m also so happy to live here amidst all the beautiful mixture of joys and difficulties.
Biblical freedom is obviously different from national freedom. We are free in Christ because of the work of Christ in his death and resurrection. We are free from the bondage of sin. We are free from the curse of sin. We have freedom in the ultimate victory of Christ over the enemy.
It’s interesting to see how the Bible talks about what we do with that freedom. Galatians 5:13-15 says,
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”
I feel like this passage has so much to teach us about what to do with both our freedom as citizens of heaven and our freedom as citizens of the USA! We should celebrate and live in our freedom. We should also use our freedom to serve and love others and not to satisfy ourselves or destroy one another. These are astounding promises and commands.
I pray that you will have a wonderful celebration tomorrow of the freedoms you have in this country and our Independence. Then we will gather on Sunday and celebrate our dependence on the Lord and the freedoms we have in Christ!
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Eric Wakeling