Independence day...

This Sunday we will celebrate a very special birthday…America!  A lot of us enjoy this time because we get an extra day off from work or we have a cookout and fireworks!  Lots of fun!  As I began thinking about what independence day is, I got a little overwhelmed thinking of all the men and women that have continued to fight for our right to be a free nation!  America was founded to be free and over these many, many years, men and women have lost their lives so I can have this freedom.  I am so thankful for this country; though it is not perfect it is still the best place on earth to live!  I am also grateful for the many men and women who put their lives on the line for our safety and freedom day after day.

As great as our freedom is in this country, nothing compares to the freedom we have in Christ!  When you really stop to think about “Independence Day”, I am in awe of what my Savior did for me on Calvary so that I can truly celebrate independence.  The day I gave my life to Christ is my “Independence Day”!  That was the day I experienced true freedom and became alive!

Colossians. 2:13-14 says, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.”

I did nothing to deserve this independence but Christ took it on himself because he loved me!  I was dead, but he took it away and nailed it to the cross…INDEPENDENCE!

So what do we do with this freedom?  

Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”

It is by Christ’s accomplishment on the cross that we have this freedom, not by our fight to get it.  Our responsibility now is to live as free men and women! To honor Christ and give him glory for what he did for us!  So undeserving we are but through his glorious gift we are FREE!

As we enjoy this holiday weekend, may we celebrate and pray for our nation!  Pray that we become a nation that seeks our God.  May we also celebrate our freedom in Christ!  It is through him that true independence is accomplished and freedom prevails!

Have a blessed week!

Allison Jordan

SHBC Praise Team