Freedom: Physical and Spiritual

This is one of my favorite pics ever. I actually took it on the Fourth of July. I adore fireworks! I will look for any excuse to buy them, and luckily my husband and sons love explosions. It all works out. I will ask for fireworks for Valentine's Day, Flag Day, my half birthday...any excuse.

I am a sucker for celebrating freedom. I have nothing but admiration for the men and women who have been defending this country for generations. The Fourth of July serves as a reminder not to take our freedom for granted. Our physical freedom in this country has not been free, it has cost the service and even lives of many. Living in a generation that has grown apathetic to this bothers me. I even see it sometimes in myself. It's hard to recognize blessings that seem constant.

There is also One who died for our spiritual freedom, and I fear that we are a generation who has also grown apathetic to this freedom. Because of Jesus, "the law of the Spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death"( Romans 8:2). Paul goes on to say that those of us who accept this freedom are no longer slaves but sons. As sons of God we don't recieve a Spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but of adoption. We don't have to be afraid because we are no longer slaves to sin and death. If you've been adopted through Jesus, then your dad beat sin and death, and you aren't under it's power anymore. Sin doesn't have power over us, but it still wins when we surrender to it. When we fail to act like who we are, sin can still work in us. I hate to admit that sin has beaten me even today, but I also know that I am a child of God and because of that, sin doesn't get the last word. Forgiveness that is offered to me as a child encourages me not surrender to sin so easily next time.

I am reminded that just like celebrating our countries freedom, I can choose to celebrate that Jesus beat sin for me. Even when I lose the battle against sin, He reminds me that He already won the war. All those fireworks I love, they don't get shot off until it's dark. Their display wouldn't be as clear if they were shot off at dusk. The anticipation of lighting up the dark gets me every time. The light always cuts through the darkness with such shocking splendor. The next time you see fireworks, remind yourself that the Light came for you in your darkness. There is no night that He will not light up. Let it remind you who you really are. Celebrate your freedom even in your imperfection.

Gatations 5:1 reminds us that, "For freedom Christ set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery". Hang on to that freedom. Stand firm. Realize it's yours and when temptation comes, ask God to light up the deception with the truth. Let the light shatter the darkness. Don't let the enemy try to yoke you back into slavery to sin. Don't surrender.

Remember your freedom this week after the Fourth, remember the men and women who died for your physical freedom and represent them well as an American. Remember the One who died for your spiritual freedom and act like you know who you are. Represent as a citizen of heaven while you are still on earth. Don't take either of these freedoms and the opportunities they present for granted.