Thoughts on Freedom

It is difficult to believe that we are already into July; the summer is passing quickly. We will celebrate Independence Day tomorrow and we will do so with the traditional gathering of family(those who are local at least), eat too much food, and possible enjoy watching the skies light up with beautiful fireworks--depending on what city officials have deciding in light of the current drought. I am sure we will have a great time; we all enjoy being independent.

I wonder if we will give much thought to the price that has been and is currently being paid so that we can enjoy this independence? I know that I try to ask God each day to give wisdom to our local and national leaders, and to protect those in harms way, but I am sure that I really do not appreciate all the freedoms I enjoy. My grandfather fought in the civil war, my father and Edgar's fought in WWII. I will never know the real price they paid, nor I believe, will I ever really appreciate what they bought for us. I hope we will all do our best to honor what has been done and work to ensure our independence is not lost in the future because we fail to remember.

I love living in a free country, in fact I am sure I don't even realize all the freedoms I have because I have never not been free. It is certainly in our nature to desire independence. In my years of working with young children, independence is the driving force behind most of what they do--God made them that way. It is that same drive for independence that usually gets them into trouble. You see we all want unrestrained freedom, and that doesn't exist. My precious little niece who is a year old today wants the freedom to climb to the top of my stairs with no restraint, but she does not understand that before we can grant her that freedom, she must be responsible enough to come down safely. My son, as I am writing, has packed his suitcase and had decided he will move into the empty house next door--he wants the freedom to play with his toys and only clean them up when and if he wants to. He doesn't understand the responsibility involved in home ownership--or toy ownership. Fortunately he will soon change his mind and be able to exercise his complete independence and come home.

As a Christian, I want to enjoy all the freedom that I have because of the debt my Savior paid, yet as I read my Bible I understand that I have been bought with a price and that I am not my own. Now don't think that I am speaking of a legalistic code that I am forced to follow, but rather a behavior modification lifestyle based on gratitude. I am free to love my enemies, to pray for those who persecute me, and to turn the other cheek when someone assaults me. All of this is because I am no longer a slave to sin but a servant to righteousness. It is a responsibility to live free in Christ, just as it is a responsibility to live as a free citizen. I pray that we all take a few moments this Independence Day and ask God what He would have us do to fulfil our responsibilities to live free.

Celebrate and be grateful!