Here in the United States, we are celebrating the Fourth of July! What does that conjure up in your mind? Flags? Fireworks? Picnics? The Declaration of Independence?
July 4, 1776 was the date that our "founding fathers" signed the Declaration, having made a resolution to separate from Britain two days earlier. Listen to what John Adams, who would later succeed George Washington as president, wrote to his wife, Abigail:
. . . I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.The story goes that a woman approached Benjamin Franklin as he left the Convention, and asked him, "Well, Dr. (Franklin) what do we have, a republic, or a monarchy?" He replied, "A republic, madam, if you can keep it."
And it's the keeping of it that has been so costly. Brave men and women since then have fought, prayed, lived and died, to keep this republic free. Ronald Reagan put it so well:
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
Freedom is not free.
There is another kind of freedom that was also bought with an enormous price -- when Christ paid our debt, to purchase forgiveness and freedom from sin for all of us.
John 8: 32, 36: Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.Christ's sacrifice on the cross set us free from the Law, and from the "sin that does so easily beset us."
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.Jesus paid the ultimate price --- His sinless life, death, and resurrection take away our sin.
Freedom isn't free. Let's celebrate with thankful hearts!
Amen and Amen dear sister! Perfect post for this day!
ReplyDeletethat is an awesome quote from Reagan.
ReplyDeleteI am very thankful. Happy 4th.
Christ paid it all me you and me.
ReplyDeleteGod gave of His perfect son for us.
My son is in Afghanistan right now....for his second tour there, and third deployment. His wife just got home in April from Iraq/Kwait. Freedom is not Free...there are people that work hard to uphold our freedom.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post, because it reminds me that freedom is not guaranteed forever, but for now. We must Thank God for our Freedom!
This summer has been so unbelievably busy for me, and I've not been working as hard as I should to draw close to My LORD and King~ In fact, it seems I could almost grow cold because of my busyness. Yes, I throw up thoughts about my LORD, and a prayer now and then, but I am not taking that precious time in His WORD and in Prayer that I know will change my relationship to a close one with HIM!
Please pray for me to leave behind all unnecessary things to work on my relationship with Christ! Believe it or not, my family is my greatest distraction. We can allow people to become more important than God, and that is a danger. I want my grandchildren to always remember a praying Grandma and a Grandma whose very favorite passtime is studying her Bible! ♥♥♥