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Freedom. July 4th, Independence Day. Our nation takes this special opportunity every summer to celebrate freedom. We are proud of the freedoms we have preserved for the citizens of our nation. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to own property, freedom to vote, freedom to make choices for ourselves and travel where we want, and all kinds of other freedoms. Some freedoms are formal and protected by our government. Some freedoms are more subtle and are agreed on by our society. We live in the land of the free. <\/p>\n
Freedom is something that Christians should know something about. There is a very important and powerful freedom that we enjoy beyond all our other freedoms in the United States. While our freedom from tyranny and the oppression of a distant government was won for us by the blood of our soldiers and patriots, Christians know that another set of freedoms was won for us by the blood of Jesus Christ. The battle He won has won our freedom from sin, death and the devil. This takes us beyond the peace we enjoy in our nation to a peace that fills our hearts and minds. <\/p>\n
34 Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:34-36 (NIV) <\/p>\n
While we celebrate our freedom from the yoke of Britain in 1776, We should realize that there is still a yoke enslaving many in our nation. We are trapped in the chains of sin, under the control of Satan with no hope of freedom until Jesus sets us free. Jesus paid for that freedom 2,000 years ago by giving His life on a cross in our place. And He offers all the sweet peace of that freedom to everyone who puts their trust in Him. As people who trustingly follow Jesus, we have a lot to celebrate. Our freedom from sin and from the devils control gives us a whole new life to live and enjoy. No more fear or guilt or punishment or torture. We have been set free to live as free citizens of the kingdom of our God. <\/p>\n
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. Galatians 5:1 (NIV) <\/p>\n
So celebrate and enjoy your freedoms, your freedoms as citizens of the United States of America and your freedoms as a rescued child of God. Use your freedom to share the love that you have experienced from Jesus with other citizens who havent discovered His love yet. Use your freedom in Christ to help free those who are still living in slavery to sin and the devil. Offer them the healing love of Jesus. Let His sacrifice break their chains. Then celebrate freedom together, sweet freedom. <\/p>\n
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 (NIV) <\/p>\n
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Lord, I Believe: The time to celebrate many freedoms - The Daily News Online<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" '); \/\/--> Freedom. July 4th, Independence Day. Continue reading