I love July. We celebrate our son’s birthday, go on vacation, and celebrate July 4th. All of the things that I love about summer seem to come together in July – family, friends, food, fireworks, and our celebration of our nation’s freedom.
We value our freedom, especially in the United States. We take pride in the idea that our country was built on freedom – freedom to choose our own government, freedom to choose our own religious practices, freedom to live as we want. We celebrate the exercise of our freedom, as we realize that many, many people around our world do not have the same opportunity.
But freedom seems to be coming under attack. Most of us are concerned about the upcoming presidential election {on both sides of the fence, and for various reasons}, and one of the common themes is a concern about the future of the freedoms we as Americans enjoy.
As we pray for the future of our country {remembering that prayer is our greatest weapon and opportunity}, now is a good time to celebrate, remember, and thank the Lord for all He has given us, including our most important freedoms found in Christ.
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Freedom from condemnation – Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. {Romans 8:1}
Freedom from fear – For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. {2 Timothy 1:7}
Freedom from judgment – If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. {Romans 10:9}
Freedom from perfectionism – And through Him [Jesus] everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. {Acts 13:39}
Freedom from sin – For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. {Romans 6:23}
Freedom to live fully – Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. {1 Peter 2:16}
Freedom to face the future – Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. {Isaiah 41:31}
Freedom to move on from the past – So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. {John 8:36}
As July comes to a close and we move into election season, stop and thank the Lord for the many ways He has given you freedom in Christ. Thank Him for His provision, and for allowing us to live in the land of the free and home of the brave. Thank Him for salvation. Thank Him for Jesus.
From what has Christ set you free? Let’s leave a chain of thankfulness and praise in the comments!
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