Independence Day

"Our qualification comes from God. 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." 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NLT

As we celebrate the anniversary of our country's freedom from England, it reminds me of another freedom. The freedom of self in God.

Freedom of self in God? Whatever do you mean? Well, as you may or may not know, we are a people that needs rules and regulations. In order to know how to behave or not to behave, how to respond or not respond--we rely on the "rules" or "laws" to guide us.

While the old church was full of dos & don'ts written in their daily scrolls, Jesus' birth, death and Resurrection changed all that. We are free in Jesus.

Don't get me wrong--as Christians, of course we have dos and don'ts--but instead of following a list of written rules, they are written in our hearts and spirits. Through Jesus, we have found the freedom that our ancestors had been searching for and fought so hard to keep.

So as you watch the fireworks and enjoy your picnic, please remember to thank the One who sacrificed His very life to liberated you forever. As you've heard the saying, "Freedom isn't free".

"You have died with Christ, and He has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world." Colossians 3:20 NLT