Freedom!

Galatians 5:1, 13-15

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Lord,
July 4th is coming
--the day when my country,
The United States of America,
celebrates its Independence.

This year I am mindful of
"Freedom".
It seems to me
most recently
the culture I live in
defines freedom:

"I can do what I want,
when I want to,
and no one can tell me otherwise."

But that definition seems not to be "freedom"

but rather "self-centered" or "selfish" living.

Freedom suggests being freed from something.

AND being freed FOR something.

The Apostle Paul writes,

"For freedom Christ has set us free!"

Through Jesus Christ,

We are freed from our past,

and freed for God's future.

We are freed from sin,

and freed for righteousness and justice.

We are freed from alienation,

and freed for intimate community.

We are freed from addiction,

and freed for healthy relationships.

We are freed from selfish, self-centered living

and freed for Christ-centered serving, self-giving living.

Lord,

this July 4th

I celebrate 

this GREAT country that I call home,

and I pray for its future.

And I embrace the freedom you give me in Christ Jesus

--freedom that puts me at the service of my neighbor.

Again the Apostle Paul:

"but through love
become slaves to one another.
For the whole law is summed up
in a single commandment,
'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

That's TRUE freedom.

O Lord,

let THAT freedom ring!

Amen.