TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY JULY 4, 2017.
FREEDOM
DEFINITION:
The state of being free and at liberty to act without restraint; the right to worship and publish fact and opinion.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
Today in America we celebrate 241 years since the founding of our country. We need to be thankful for the freedoms that we have enjoyed over the years. But during the past few years we are seeing some of our freedoms going away. Our founding fathers paid a heavy price for the freedoms we have been enjoying.
Former President Harry S. Truman said years ago, “Freedom is expensive. It still costs blood. It still calls for courage and endurance by every man and woman who is free and who is determined to remain free.” Unfortunately, many Americans do not seem to want to pay that price today.
High above the Capitol building in Washington D.C. is the “FREEDOM LADY.” This statue is about 20 feet high and stands out for all to see when they visit the capitol. This statue was given to America and was shipped by sea from Rome to America. The ship that it was on encountered a fierce storm and the Captain ordered some of the cargo to be thrown overboard so they would not sink the ship. Some of the sailors wanted to jettison the heavy statue but the captain refused. He shouted above the howling storm. “NO NEVER! We will flounder before we throw “FREEDOM” away.
Our forefathers made sure that religious freedom was a major part of that freedom. We should not take our religious freedom for granted. Many in this world do not have religious freedom and many Christians are being persecuted today as you read this devotional.
Christianity is much more than a religion. It is a relationship with Jesus. God has given us the freedom to choose whether we want that relationship or whether we decide not to accept God’s offer. As Joshua said many years ago, “Choose you this day, who you shall serve. For me and my house we will serve the Lord.”
When we choose to serve the Lord, and accept Jesus as our Savior, we receive a freedom that came at a heavy price. We have the freedom from the consequences of sin because Jesus paid the penalty for our sins when He gave His life on the cross. His blood has made us free.
In John 8: 31, 32 and 36, we read that the truth that we learn from God’s Word shall make us free. When Jesus makes us free, we are truly free.
The story of Abraham and Lot shows us today that how we use our freedom reveals our character and who we really are. Abraham, after asking God how he should divide up the land gave Lot, his nephew the freedom to choose first which portion of the land he wanted when they were dividing it up.
Lot chose the most fertile land for himself and left the poorest land for Abraham. Lot’s choice led to his downfall. Abraham was rewarded by God and was richly blessed with great wealth. When we include God in our freedom to choose, God will bless us.
How often do we take our freedoms for granted? All it takes for us to lose our freedoms here in America and also to lose our freedoms that Jesus has given us is to turn away from God and let evil triumph in our nation and in our personal lives.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 27:5.
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
Thank You, dear Lord, for the freedoms You have given me, especially the freedom to worship You as my Savior and Lord. Help me to use the freedoms you have given me to further the good news of the gospel. Enable me to share my beliefs to my family and lead them to appreciate the freedom to worship God that we have here in America.
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