Tuesday Thoughts: Freedom

We had such a great 4th of July weekend.  The weekend started out with our annual meeting and neighborhood cookout.  It is always good to see our Colorado neighbors.  We love them and really enjoy our time up here with them.

Our good friends, Steve and Karen, came to visit us from Chicago.  We started our time together by going to Church in the Park - The River Church always has church in the park around the 4th.  It was a great service - very different!


It was a beautiful day.  We started out with singing and then Dwight gave a great message on the freedom we have in Christ.  Then to our great surprise - he performed a wedding!  

How fun is that!  Chris - the groom - had become a Christian that week.  His girlfriend had been a believer for about a year.  Once he accepted Christ as his Savior, he wanted to make things right by marrying his girlfriend.  Well - there is no time like the present!  In his freedom - he made the right choice.


Freedom - that word means a lot of different things to different people.  On July 4th, our minds immediately go to the freedoms we enjoy in this country and to those who fought and those who continue to fight to give us that freedom.  We are deeply grateful.

But - if that is the only freedom that you know, you are missing out!  There is greater freedom to be had in Christ.  When you give your life to Christ, you gain the freedom to live without fear, to fully develop your gifts and to discover your purpose.  Most importantly, you have the freedom to choose. 

We all like to have choices.  Who likes to be told what to do?  Not anyone I know!  But in that freedom - there is room to make life giving choices and life debilitating choices.  

I have the freedom to live in obedience - or not.
I have the freedom to love others - or not.
I have the freedom to be selfless - or selfish.
I have the freedom to trust the Lord - or go my own way.

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

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  Galatians 5:13

Our country's freedom came at a high cost and is certainly maintained at a high cost.  My freedom in Christ came at a high cost too.  So - I choose to live in freedom - but in that freedom I choose to follow Jesus.  

To be free in Christ is to be free indeed!