Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage - Gal 5:1
Topic of today's blog is no surprise to anyone as we celebrate July 4th, Independence Day in our nation. If God would call Israelites to pray for the peace of the nation where they were taken captive (Jer 29:7), how much more would He want us to pray for the nation where we live, thrive and prosper? Would you take a step back from magnifying things that could be better in our nation, rather intentionally choose to thank God for His goodness and grace upon our Nation?
If that's a challenge for you, then ask yourself if you could say, do and live like the way you do here in any other nation on the planet and go unhindered? There are people dying in the world for freedom in everything from worship to basic survival. People thronging the borders of our nation is an evidence for it.
Though Independence, Freedom and Liberty, all translated into one word in Tamil, these are very distinct at the same time very closely relevant words. I am by no means a literary expert and does not mean this in a literal sense.
But they way I see these three words are
Independence is won at a great sacrificial price
Freedom is the result of that sacrifice and
Liberty is the individual's choice to enjoy/exploit the freedom that was given.
As generations move on, value of that great sacrifice diminishes in people's mind that leads to taking the freedom for granted resulting in exploitation of that freedom as if it is free or it is an entitlement. How sad! The verse above, Gal 5:1 directly addresses the Liberty that we enjoy at the cost of Jesus! How real and personal is that to you or is that just a fable that someone told you or you heard in a sermon? You might have heard the term 'don't take it personal'. But a Christian ought to take few things personal, the Cross, the Savior, the Blood and the Salvation. Otherwise, we will take this liberty for granted and greater is the chance of losing it as well. Taking it for granted leads to exploiting the liberty to justify our own way of living and loving that entangles us in sin. This entangles us in snares of death here and in eternity.
This is the kind of freedom that leads to bondage! But, there is a bondage that leads to freedom, indeed! Hard to believe, see the life of Paul. He called himself a 'bond servant of Christ' yet enjoyed the greatest freedom in spirit that was evident in every aspect of his life, teaching and accomplishments. He laid aside everything (Heb 12:1-2) that could entangle him in his race of life and ran to victory both here and in eternity!
As you celebrate July 4th, ask yourself if you are free, indeed? Does your freedom lead you to peace, calm in the storm and joy? Or, you are yet to know the freedom of Christ? Real freedom will lead to the realization that you were called to liberty even before the foundations of the earth! It belongs to you and its time you make a claim by placing your faith and trust in Jesus!
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another - Gal 5:13
Blessings for the day and the week!
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