Let Freedom Ring

Today was a wonderful day. Mike and I took BK to the Ag Museum this morning for a 4th of July celebration. We rode the carousel (twice) and the train. She had balloons painted on her hand. She ate ice cream from a little flat wooden spoon, while dancing with glee to the bluegrass banjo music. Later this afternoon we went to my sister's home for some good food and great company. BK and Mike were able to swim for a while before the rain came.

While in the car, we were listening to a local radio show. The speaker encouraged us to never take our country's freedom for granted. I began to think about freedom...and why it is that we are tempted to take it for granted. One reason is probably because the vast majority of us who were born in the United States have never known anything other than freedom. We are so ready to embrace that freedom...it has just become a way of life. We don't question why. We don't wonder if we are worthy. We just accept it for what it is and live our lives accordingly.

Soon it became apparent to me the parallels and contrasts between our country's freedom and our spiritual freedom. Both required a sacrifice of life. Many soldiers have died and many more will follow...there will never be an end to the strife in this world until it's all over. But our spiritual freedom required the life of only one...the Spotless Lamb...our Redeemer. Jesus died so we could live in freedom. So why is it so hard for us to accept that truth? We question...we doubt...we wonder if we are deserving.

If our beliefs lead to our feelings, and our feelings lead to our actions, then turn it around and look at it from the other direction: Our actions result from our feelings, and our feelings result from our beliefs. The conclusion is that if we, as Christians, are not acting like we are free, then we don't really believe that we are.

What will it take to convince us?