I am sure most of you are still enjoying the day off work, celebrating our nations 234th birthday.  234 years of freedom!  That’s so great, however, since I remember alot of the bicentennial celebration, 234 sure makes me feel older!

On my drive back I heard the DJ on an Atlanta station was talking about the Liberty Bell in Philly, and mentioned the verse that is etched in the bell.  That seemed to be a good verse to share today as we continue to celebrate.

proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.  Leviticus 25:10

Get out there today and proclaim liberty, but remember to use it for good.

¹⁶Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16 (New International Version)

So with Juneteenth right upon us as well, It seems such a great time to consider the freedoms we are afforded.  But not only the freedoms we have as a citizen of the country we reside, but the freedom we are given from our Savior.   Many people view following the Christ as a binding and limiting engagement.  But check this out.

²³“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. ²⁴Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

and

¹³You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  Galatians 5:13 (New International Version)

We are called to be free!  We are blessed that we have been delivered a message that allows us to live, not by a series of laws, but by the spirit of love.   Boy, that something that brings joy and hopefully stokes you up a little bit.  And just imagine the feelings of the American slaves when they realized that the rumors of their freedom were true!

How are you using your freedom?