Thankful Thursday- Freedom

It's coming up on the fourth of July and truthfully I have a hard time singing, "My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty..." It's not because I'm embittered towards America. It's not because I don't love her- I do. It's not because I'm not thankful for the laws of this land which permit me to do many things- I am thankful. I think it's just because there's a cry in my soul that longs for Christians in America to sing of the real Land of Liberty- the city who's builder and maker is God. I long to hear us clinging to and celebrating the One who makes us free.

Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God...They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth. And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had meant the country they came from, they would have found a way to go back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them.- Hebrews 11:10, 14-16

I consider myself a very patriotic person. I love my country. I'm so thankful for and honor the veterans and military, police and yes, even government, who have taken stands and even given their lives to purchase me the freedom to write this without fear of being put in jail, and to go worship Jesus with my friends on Sunday without fear of being beaten. I am sooooo thankful!

But I know, that I know, that I know, that I am not a free person today because of those things. For even if my government was oppressive and the police were perverted and the military was murderous...even if that were the case (as it is in many places in the world), God help me, I'D STILL SING OF MY FREEDOM! Why? Because it's the truth that has set me free, whether governments or men abide by that truth or not, I do and therefore I am free.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free."- John 8:36

What is the truth that sets me free? The truth is I was a slave to every appetite of my natural existence and only able to sin continually until I saw that the Son of the Living God included me in His death so that it is no longer I who live. And He also included me in His resurrection so that His life lives in me. I am no longer a slave but a son in Christ Jesus, and no power of sin, flesh, government, or man...not even death, can keep me from true freedom.

If I really want this country to be free I won't depend on human government or military to make it so. I will live free, giving my body over not to sin to do wickedness in a country where I'm "free" to do so, but giving my body over to God to work righteousness through Him who lives in me. In doing so I will spread freedom everywhere I go.

"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."- Matthew 5:13-16

And in the freedom I now truly do live I pray for the leaders of this country, the military people who sacrifice so much and the police who are God's ministers- enforcing laws to preserve some order in a land enslaved to sin.

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Oh that we who are not just "Christians" according to the country we live in, or the church we go to, but sons of God through Christ, would live our lives here in this foriegn land truly free, spreading the aroma of freedom as we proceed triumphantly after the One who has set us free.

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. - 1 Corinthians 2:14

I ask myself, "Are you a spreading freedom Sheila or are you spreading slavery? Are you leaving the scent of freedom all around you, doing the things that the free sons of God do, or are you leaving the stench of bondage all around you, doing the things slaves to sin do?"

The evidence lies in the verses below:

For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God's terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. You used to do them when your life was still part of this world.

But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you.

In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile (or American), circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace.

And always be thankful.

Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise.

Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father. - Colossians 3:3-17

Father of the new creature I am in Christ, I thank you for the price you paid to set me free! And I pray for America...Oh Lord, love us as sons, chastize us but don't judge us according to what we deserve. Wake us up individually to our own conditions. Grant us a godly sorrow that leads to true repentance and make us a fragrance of true freedom in this land. Make our lives songs that sing with thankful hearts no matter what our government does or doesn't do. Knock on the doors of our hearts ask us, "Has the Son set you free?" Let us see, are we free or are we bound? And then set Your captives free Lord!

For more Thanksgiving head over to Sting My Heart.