When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness (Declaration of Independence)
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31,32)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)
“There is a divinity which shapes our ends. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” (John Adams- who along with Thomas Jefferson died 7/4/1726).
“There is a divinity which shapes our ends. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” (John Adams- who along with Thomas Jefferson died 7/4/1726).
Thoughts: On the fourth of July we think of freedom. We often forget how evil and wrong-doing restricts our freedom. Addictions restrict our freedom. Adultery that separates us from our families has the illusion of being free but separates us in our hearts and often physically. We downplay the power of guilt to enslave our energy and thoughts. We are most free when we are not fighting against the One who made us; when we are not fighting against our neighbor; when we are not fighting against ourselves. The Church is a ship we get in that helps us escape the sea of evil. It is a source to stay afloat in life.
Christ's truth sets us free from sin. We are not slaves to the addiction and power of sin when we believe in Christ. America is one of the freest countries in the world. We can assemble freely; we can pray or worship freely; we can speak freely; our tax rate is lower than most places. But if we use our freedom to be immoral, then we will find more and more laws in order to restrict wrongness. Too many laws lead to the impossibility of keeping them and in the end the ignoring of them. We see this in many other countries where gangs and crime are very prevalent. When we use our freedom to be the best we can be morally- then we find freedom. If Christ has set us free, we do not need to go back to the slavery of sin.
Christ's truth sets us free from sin. We are not slaves to the addiction and power of sin when we believe in Christ. America is one of the freest countries in the world. We can assemble freely; we can pray or worship freely; we can speak freely; our tax rate is lower than most places. But if we use our freedom to be immoral, then we will find more and more laws in order to restrict wrongness. Too many laws lead to the impossibility of keeping them and in the end the ignoring of them. We see this in many other countries where gangs and crime are very prevalent. When we use our freedom to be the best we can be morally- then we find freedom. If Christ has set us free, we do not need to go back to the slavery of sin.
Prayer: Lord, keep us free. Lord keep us following your ways. Give us ears to listen and a heart to understand.
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