In the next few days the United States will celebrate a major summer holiday, July 4th, aka Independence Day. Regardless of how you celebrate it or what name you choose to attach to it, the significance of the day is all about our freedom. As with many holidays, we often do not take the time to observe its true meaning. The 4th of July in many cases gets absorbed in backyard barbeques, vacations, fireworks, and pool parties. There’s nothing at all wrong with that, especially since our summers seems to get shorter and shorter, however it is important that we at least acknowledge how privileged we really are to be free!

Our news media has been flooded recently with the unimaginable images of children being separated from their families, as they risk everything to find refuge in America from their birth places in other countries. They are fleeing from the horrors of extreme poverty, gang domination, violent crime, human trafficking, and so many deplorable conditions. These immigrants see no other option but to jeopardize life and limb for the chance at attaining a better life for themselves and their loved ones.

Watching the daily heart wrenching reports has raised the level of my gratitude for freedom to a level as never before. But I cannot just think about my freedom from the economic, sociological, and materialistic perspective. I find that I must increase my thankfulness from a spiritual standpoint as well. One of my favorite scriptures is II Corinthians 3: 17, but to help shed a greater light and understanding, I wish to expand the reading of that chapter.

4 We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5 It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 6 He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.

17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
II Corinthians 3: 4 – 6, 17 – 18 (NLT)

Freedom does not afford us the liberty to do whatever we feel like doing without restraint or restriction, despite what many might think. But freedom, be it spiritual or natural gives us the choice to become the complete person God designed us to be that we might glorify Him as the Creator. When we truly live in freedom we live in the truth of who we are, dispelling the lies that the enemy seeks to entice us to govern our lives by.

"True freedom opens the limitless doors of hope, the authenticity of confidence, the anticipation of opportunity, real peace, genuine love, and joy that supersedes the transitional conditions of happiness."

Living life in the acceptance of freedom as the gift that has been afforded us, displays our appreciation to the One who so unselfishly made it possible. Fortunately for us, freedom is not something we must risk our lives for. In actuality, we already have our freedom! Now let’s live out our freedom with all the God-given liberties that come with it!

Source: First Lady Denise