1 Peter 2:16 [NIV] ‘Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.’

DAILY READING; 1 Timothy 1; Isaiah 31-33; Psalm 119:33-64

Today, July 4th , marks America’s Independence day celebration. It is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of their nation’s independence on July 4, 1776.
A century later, during the independence celebration on July 4, 1884, France presented America with the Statue of Liberty, which is perhaps its largest physical birthday present.
It took four months to assemble the 151-foot-tall statue of Liberty, which was shipped from Paris in hundreds of pieces.
Today, the Statue stands in Upper New York Bay, as a universal symbol of freedom.

For the 2021 Independence celebration, once again France is sending a second, smaller, 9 feet Statue of Liberty across the Atlantic just in time for America’s July Fourth festivities. This is 137 years ago, after gifting the original Lady Liberty to the U.S.

The essence of the gift of the statue of liberty was originally conceived by France as an emblem of its friendship with the U.S. and a sign of their mutual desire for liberty.
Interestingly in the same year, 1884, that the gift of the statue of liberty was given and celebrated in the News as a symbol of America’s freedom, another incident also was in the news.
In a bid to control the menace of fireworks, during the independence day celebrations of that year, local city leaders in Denver Colorado had refused to supply fireworks to a group of men at a mining camp known as Swan City, Colo. The miffed miners then decided to exercise their own freedom of expression in a different way. They blew up the post office with dynamites as a way of venting their anger. This action instead of expressing their freedom only ended up denying them freedom, as they were arrested by the law.

Indeed freedom and liberty means different things to different people.
Having a liberty or freedom to do something is not the same as choosing not to obey commands, follow examples, or adhere to necessary implications.
Romans 7:8 says “Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.”.[NIV].
Certainly, true freedom comes with discipline. Freedom must have limitations in order to be freedom.
Discipline may not be very appealing but it is the mystery behind distinctions in life.
You can never enjoy lasting success in life without proven self-discipline.
Each of us is absolutely responsible for the outcome of our lives through our level of submission to godly discipline.

We saw in 2 Samuel 13 how Ammon, the son of king David, was a potential heir to the throne. As a prince, he enjoyed a lot of freedom and liberty, but due to careless association and lack of discipline, he not only lost the throne but also lost his life.

Certainly, we must be self-disciplined so as not to miss our glorious place in destiny.
To successfully get to our desired place in life, we must realize that we are not really free to do what we like. No matter how we feel or our desire, we are constrained by the instructions of the Scriptures. Always, we must ensure that our liberty doesn’t become an occasion of stumbling to others or even ourselves.

1 Peter 2:16 [NIV] says ‘Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.’

The spiritual freedom purchased for us on the cross by Christ, should lead us to obey God’s Word out love for the Lord who freed us from sin.
This means that how we act and express ourselves, must all be done to please God.
In a generation where everyone feels they can do what they want, we must choose to be different. In everything we do Christ must be glorified.
As believers, our celebration of freedom, is our deliverance from the shackles of sin and oppression of the enemy.
Galatians 5:1 says ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.’
As we have been set free by Christ let us stand firm and not again be entangled in the yoke of sin. Let us continually claim our freedom from temptations, afflictions and every form of demonic oppressions. Certainly, whosoever the son of God has made free is truly free indeed.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for the freedom Christ purchased for me at Calvary. Please grant me the grace for a life of discipline lived in accordance with Your Word so that Christ will be continually glorified in all I do in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. WORDBITE 222