Act as free men and women (4th of July thoughts)

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 (NLT)Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king (respect the government). 1 Peter 2:16-17 (NASB95, parenthesis mine)July 4th, Independence Day, the day 234 years ago a few colonies declared that they would no longer be under British rule. Thus the “united States of America”, a nation of freedom lovers was born.Of course in the aftermath of the day that declared all people as being created equal money, power, and expediency thwarted the application of freedom to Blacks, Native Americans, Women, and the Poor. It really is amazing, isn’t it, that freedom is such a struggle. It should be easy, but it isn’t.One thing, 234 years later, seemingly forgotten is how great a part reformed Christian thought and values played a part in the beginning of what is often called “the great American experiment.” Certain universal laws and rights are given to all of humanity by God, all people are created in the image of God, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are not man-made concepts but ideas from the mind of God.234 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence the celebration also casts a sad shadow, because in every county across this great land precious freedom is wasted. Today more people will succumb to the slavery of greed, materialism, drugs, alcohol, gambling, life-draining relationships, dishonesty, immorality, ease, man-made religions, and godless ideologies. Today people across this free nation will use their liberty for doing evil, to care only about themselves and their pleasure and happiness, often causing much pain, grief, and sorrow.Today from East to West, from North to South, people will celebrate with no thought of that which the founders of the Nation thought foundational: God. This coming week many of our elected officials will make laws, enact policies with little or no regard whether or not they square with laws and principles of God outlined in the scriptures, not remembering that, “God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak,” Proverbs 14:34 (MSG).It makes a big difference what you and I do with our freedom. If we are not careful we will squander and waste it, or worse yet, abuse it. The scriptures you read at the beginning let each one of us know where God, our Creator, who calls to live andact as free men and women means for us to start in our use of freedom.• Understand freedom to be a daily call to selflessness and service to do good,not a license to self-centeredness and indulgence to do evil.• Freedom as a right carries responsibility displayed in actions.• True freedom lovers learn to discern good from evil, and disciplinethemselves to what is good.• A fear of God, respect for all people, respect for government, and respect forpeople in government are central to the way God wants free men and womanto act.• We are never more free then when we submit ourselves to God, His ways,His principles, His wisdom, His power, His providence, His care, and Hislove.This 4th of July, I pray that as free men and free women we will bless God, before we ask Him to bless us – because He already has.To God be all glory, love you, Pastor Hans