“This day will be the most memorable epic in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.” – John Adams
Independence Day has to be one of my favorite holidays. I know I say that about a few other holidays as well, but the 4th of July is one I truly love. It’s warm outside, most of the ones I recall were sunny days and they were centered around family. And, when the 4th falls on a work day (like today), I don’t have to feel guilty about not working. It’s a really nice feeling. 🙂
Independence day is a great reminder of our freedom. It’s a freedom we fought hard to have and a freedom that we will have to continue to fight hard to maintain. Freedom is never free and there must be hard battles to be fought to maintain it.
As John Adams said, “The general principles on which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” Our independence is based on Christ and Christ alone. The question is, what will we do with this freedom? Not just as an American but as a believer?
Are you willing to fight for Christ in your life…a living, breathing example of hope to the world? What are you willing to do as a believer to freely live for Christ?
As Herm Edwards (the former NFL coach, now ESPN analyst) said, “we are a collection of our choices”. What you chose to do today will affect who you become tomorrow. How we live our life today will affect us tomorrow and next year and many years to come. I believe that loving God and loving others, many others will see a hope and a future, if I am faithful to choose to live for Christ. And, as a result, they will feel freedom!
I’m not talking about your “ministry”…the thing you get paid to do or volunteer to do. I’m talking about your life. What would it look like for you to be a living example to your family, to your children, to your neighbors and to your community of what it means to have freedom in Christ? To live as a truly free person because when push comes to show you love God and love others. And out of that love for God and others you use the freedom you have to live for Christ to where, at the end of the day, you have no regrets.
My encouragement for you and your family is to use the freedom that we have in America and the freedom Christ has given us to live as free people and share Christ by the way you love Him and others today.
What will you do with the freedom you have in Christ? Share below your thoughts or on social media using the hashtag #ymsidekick.
PS. if this (above) doesn’t motivate and encourage you, maybe this (below) will. 🙂
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