Freedom

Today is Independence Day. And many of you will celebrate with pool parties and cookouts and fireworks. I hope you will pause to give thanks to God that we live in a country where we have all kinds of freedom. We are free to worship God – or not; free to choose where we live, choose our jobs, who we marry. What a gift!

Freedom is one of the central themes of the gospel. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, “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.”

In Christ, we are free from the bondage of guilt, free from our past mistakes, free from our failures, free from legalism, free from having to earn God’s love. But Paul tells us, most importantly, we are free to love and to serve other people. A natural expression of our freedom should be love.

Let us pray: You have blessed us so richly, Lord. We live in a time and place of great abundance, and great freedom. Yet we still see need. Remind us that we are blessed to be a blessing. Show us everyday, ways in which we can use our freedom and our resources to bless others.

We pray today with much gratitude for those who serve us by serving this country. We lift up the men and women of the military and their families, public servants, and civic volunteers of all types. We are inspired by their sacrifice and ask your blessing and guidance upon them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.