Freedom

Today, in the USA, we celebrate freedom and independance.  Many of us take forgranted what true freedom really is.  We have never truly been a slave, subjected to  tyranny, or had even the remotest sense of what it would be like to be in a situation like that.  I can see many people agreeing with that statement, nodding their heads in agreement.  Yet we DO know what it is like to be subjected to slavery and tyranny, for we are enslaved to sin and if left unchecked, it can become a tyrancial force that destroys us from the inside out.  

The gospel is called "the good news" for a reason.  Christ came to set us free from our own enslavement.  Tonight's passage:

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:31-36 ESV)

Whether we recognize it or not, we have a propensity towards sin.  We are born into it.  If you have ever watched young children, you can completely understand this.  No one has to teach them how to lie, be dishonest, self seeking, etc.  It just happens, from day one we are "I" centered.  When we become followers of Christ, we move from "I" centered to Christ centered, putting others first, their needs, their wants, etc.  

My prayer for each of you who read this today, on "Indpendance Day", is for you to know true freedom in Christ.  Once you know that you are in bondage, it becomes obvious to seek to be Free.  The bondage is sin...and the freedom is Christ.

May today be the "Independence Day" for your soul!