LET'S CELEBRATE! 7/4/10

Today is one of our countries biggest celebration days. It has been going on since 1776 or there about; our day of independence as a nation! Our day of freedom from oppression placed upon us by other countries. Our day of breaking away from the old laws we were under and eventually placed under the newly written Constitution which allows us freedoms under the Amendments to the Constitution called the "Bill of Rights!" What about the Preamble to the Constitution?

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

That first celebration, many hundreds of years ago, must have been full of pride; expectations and a complete feeling of accomplishment. Many had died to secure this day and many lived their lives maimed in body and felt the pride of spirit of being a part of what took place. Many were so thankful for those who stood tall on the front lines to make that day a reality. We still celebrate! We still call to remembrance those who came before us!

Somehow, today seems to be a little flat. The air of then has slowly seeped out of the small holes that have been punctured through generations of watering down what the Constitution stands for. If we were to point fingers, the blame game would touch us all. We are all responsible for our condition. We are all held accountable!

Getting on our knees and seeking God's face is the only solution out of our mess today. Getting on board with God will give us reason to celebrate with all our being. Perhaps, if the scriptures were to have an introduction as the preamble to the Constitution it would read like this; "But because of false brethren secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into bondage again; to them we did not yield submission even for a moment, that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you." Galatians 2:4-5 "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another take heed that you are not consumed by one another." Galatians 5:13-15

As followers of God we live by a separate code than the world does. We forget that our freedoms are in Christ and not necessarily given to us by our government. However, the Constitution of the United States is there to protect our worldly freedoms; and should be remembered for those reasons. God is the giver of our passport into eternity and not necessarily easy access throughout our country. However, we do want it all, don't we?

"Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17a Freedom in Christ is being free from going with the crowd; peer pressures; you can say no; wear no masks and you can deal honestly and forthrightly with your neighbor. The freedom we have in Christ is not to be used to walk; trample or degrade others. Being honest is not hurting others with your idea of being truthful. Being honest is learning to love one another with Godly love.

Thank you for calling us to freedom, Jesus! Freedom from sin, fear and death paves the way for us to be transformed. Use us Lord; let us be willing servants in your kingdom, free from the oppressor who wants our allegiance. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 6/29/10