FREEDOM

The 4th of July is here. It is the day that America celebrates her freedom. In 1776 our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence, which broke the chains which held us in bondage to the tyranny of the King of England.

We celebrate the 4th of July as being the most free nation on earth. Yet, there are many in this nation today who are in bondage. Enslaved to drugs and alcohol; dominated by fear; held captive by immoral sexual desires; in the shackles of jealousy and envy; enthroned by self-centered-pity-selfishness; controlled by anger, hatred, and outbursts of wrath; subjugated by contentious and dissentious attitudes.

If you are under any of these or any other kind of bondage, I know of someone who can set you free. His name is Jesus the Christ, the only begotten Son of the living God. Jesus left His Divinity behind and came to this earth as a man, He went about doing good, healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. He came to set us free from those things which we have allowed our lives to get ensnared in. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, as He healed and set free men as a man, how much more so now that He sits at the right hand of the Power of God. Submit your life to God and draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you and set you free from the bondage’s that have ensnared you.

You may be asking; Isn’t there many rules, regulations, and strict moral standards to adhere to? So wouldn’t I be just putting myself under just another form of bondage by submitting my life to God? No, for in Jesus’ own words; Mt 11:29-30; "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

God gave man ten commandments, but man has added to the laws until whole libraries are full of law books. When the Lord Jesus was asked by the religious leaders of the day which was the greatest commandment, Jesus replied; "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it; You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Mt 22;37-40).

This is the very core of being a Christian, to follow Christ walk in love. Quite simply, do not do what you do not want someone else to do to you. But do not confuse loving with liking. You do not have to like someone to love them. You do not have to like thieves, murders, sexual deviates, violent people, or whatever kind of nasty pervert. Love them, pray for them, repent of any wrong doing you might of had with them, forgive them, but stay away from them. You don’t have to like them, but you have to love them, after all, you are not perfect either.

So, if on this holiday on which we celebrate our freedom, if you want to be truly free open your heart to Jesus. Allow Jesus to come into your life and set you free that you may celebrate freedom like you have never known. It is as simple as this, Rms 10:8-10; But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

There are many churches that teach and preach the Lord Jesus Christ that is near to where ever you may live. Find one that will help you to start now in celebrating freedom in Christ Jesus.

Praise God, Halleluiah, Amen.