Freedom

Hello, my dear friends!

I have missed writing more than I can say.  It seems there hasn’t been enough time or energy lately to make room for it.  But there’s lots of good things happening and I am certain I will be filling you in on more of that later!

In the meantime, I thought I’d share a quick message as I wish you a Happy Fourth of July.

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This is a weekend when freedom is very much on our minds and hearts.

To consider, on the birthday of our nation, what our lives would be like had countless men and women not given their all to secure our freedoms is an almost unfathomable thought.  Where would we be without their dedication and sacrifice?

Imagine just for a moment if we, as Americans, lived oblivious to the liberty and independence won for us.  Imagine if we had a hard time holding ourselves up under the weight of assumed oppression and tyranny…simply because we were unaware of the freedom that came at so high a count and so high a cost.

How many of us do that very same thing…as Christians?  How many of us live as though we are enslaved when Jesus gave everything to ensure us a life of victory?

The book of Hebrews tells us “everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness for he is an infant.” (Hebrews 5:13)

My friends, it is only once we have the revelation that our righteousness is not dependent on our own right doing that we  will mature as Christians and become skillful in the word of righteousness.  We aren’t going to embrace our new life or honor the sacrifices made if we don’t recognize what was done and step into the freedom that’s been bought.

As Americans, we stand forever grateful.

As Christians, our greatest calling and our greatest joy is to believe, in the very depths of our hearts, that the price of sin has been paid in full…lovingly…on our behalf.  That payment sealed forever a destiny in Christ that gives a whole new meaning to liberty…

and can free the captives of any nation…

and can make our hearts rejoice at the name of the One who came to set us free.

I don’t spend much time in the Book of Titus but my devotional led me there today…

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:4)

We are the blessed people who have been washed and transformed; renewed by the Holy Spirit and forever made righteous in the eyes of our holy and just Father.

And if we are to live freely, now and forevermore, we simply need to believe.

Lord Jesus, even though we can’t begin to understand the sacrifices made for our country and the suffering they’ve caused, we can’t imagine a greater sacrifice than the Cross.  That you would feel the torture of the stripes, the weight and cruelty of the cross and the utter agony of being separated from the Father you adore is proof enough of your love.  Help us to walk in the JOY of our salvation and to breathe easier, daily, knowing Your Sacrifice has truly purchased our freedom…for now and all of eternity.  Thank you, Jesus.  It’s in Your most precious name we pray.  Amen.