freedom. it’s a word that we here in america like to throw around – especially on days like today. every year, i find myself unsure of how to feel on the 4th of july. mostly, i guess, because i don’t pledge an eternal allegiance to this country but instead to the One who allows us all to continue breathing. don’t get me wrong. i’m reallly thankful to live in america, privileged to experience the kind of government that allows its citizens to make decisions, honored to know people who are in the extremely under-recognized military that protects our civil liberties every day. but the truth of the matter is that this concept of freedom that we have is a mere shadow of the eternal “independence” that Christ bought for mankind on the Cross of Calvary...the free grace that is available to all who would put their faith in the price He paid – that which we could never have done for ourselves. galatians 5:1 says, ‘it is for freedom that Christ has set us free.’ it’s THIS freedom that i think about today....while others are out waving american flags (and please hear me – i don’t begrudge them of their enjoyment in the least), i’m thinking about a day that occurred around 2000 years ago....the day that God showed the world once and for all that the even the sins of man are not enough to keep us from His love. the perfect, righteous lamb of God was slain so that i could know this love. no disrespect to the u.s. and to the founding ‘fathers’ of this nation, but i will only ever raise my hand to the heavens to lift a thanksgiving to my Lord - without whom i would be unable to lift even my own head.

the price God paid so that i could live this day – i could spend all of eternity trying to repay that debt. thankfully, in Christ, it is finished.

happy independence day....hope yours is the truest freedom.

peace.