Freedom
7/7/21 (by Josh McCall)
This past weekend we celebrated the 4th of July Holiday. It’s a day that signifies the moment in time when the American colonies declared their independence from England. It’s also a day that we celebrate our freedoms as Americans. These are two principles that we hold in high esteem, our “independence” and our ‘freedom”.
As citizens of a nation these two ideas are of the utmost importance. If we weren’t allowed individual liberty or independence, then we really wouldn’t have any freedom. In our world these two ideas are tied closely together and without one we don’t have the other.
However, as is so often the case, things work exactly opposite in the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s actually our dependence on God that gives us real freedom. In fact, the more independent we try to be spiritually the more we are bound by sin.
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, part of the prayer He modeled for them says “give us this day our daily bread”. Or in other words, “I am daily dependent on you for everything, so Lord give me what I need for today”. Too often we try to do things on our own, in our own power or with our own wisdom. Our sin nature constantly fights for “independence” from God. There’s no freedom in that!
If you want to know true freedom, it starts with a saving faith in Jesus. Then each day declare your dependence on God asking him to give you all you need for today!
Yours in Christ,
Josh McCall