Hello Monday! If you are new to my blog, welcome! If you have been following me for a while, welcome to my new format. I have been posting daily but now I will only be posting one time a week on Mondays. Since my next post will not be until after July the 4th, my post today will be related to Independence Day for the USA. So let freedom ring!
What is freedom, and how do we let it ring?
Freedom – (noun), the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
The phrase “let freedom ring” comes directly from the patriotic song “America”. Here is the verse: My country, ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims’ pride, From ev’ry mountainside Let freedom ring! Awe, I heard you sing that in your head – you can’t just read it can you? 😊
To let your freedom ring simply means to let your freedom be known. Notice that freedom is not a sound that you make, but a state that you are in. Ring is a sound. So in order for freedom to be known, you need to make a sound – ring is that sound! Thus let your freedom ring.
John 8:31b-32 NIV
Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
He set us free from the penalty of sin, which is eternal death (or eternal separation from the Father). In eternal death, the spirit body still lives forever, but forever separated from God.
Time for a Dad Joke
This reminds me of a joke. A man dies and goes to Hell. He is greeted at the gates of Hell and led to the first of three doors. A fallen angel (a demon) says to the man that he can go in this room, or pass it for the next door. The man is surprised that he has choices! The man looks in and sees trash waist deep, and everyone inside is standing on their heads. So he says, “I’ll pass.”
So they come to the second door. It is the same scenario, trash waist deep and people standing on their heads. The demon once again says to the man that he can choose this door, or pass and go to one last door. So the man once again passes.
So the man is led to the last door. The man looks in. Once again, trash waist-deep. But this time everyone is standing up! And not only this, they are all drinking coffee. The coffee, like for most of us, seals the deal. So the man jumps on the opportunity and tells the demon, “I’ll take this room!”
So the demon lets the man in and locks the door behind him. Just as he gets in and gets ready to get a cup of coffee, he hears a whistle blow and someone yells, “Coffee break is over. Everyone back on your heads!”
Okay, so much for the joke. And I owned a cleaning company for 15 years. And standing on my head in waste? 😊
Let Your Freedom in Christ Ring
A couple of thoughts on how you can let your freedom in Christ ring:
- Share your story – you have been set free and been given eternal life.
- Pray about one person to whom you can share your story. God has given you a story. I will have future posts on how to share your freedom, your good news!
- Another way if you haven’t already, get/be baptized. Being baptized is a way of showing others that you’ve buried your old life with Jesus (being dunked underwater), and you were raised out of the water (raised to a new life with Christ), with the water representing your sins being washed away.
- Another reason for being baptized is that God tells us to be, so being baptized is a sign also of obedience and a testimony to others of our new life in Christ.
- I love the third and final way to let our freedom ring….live your everyday-walking-around-kind-of-life with Jesus so that your actions are a testimony of your freedom (your changed life in Christ).
- I like what St. Francis of Assisi says, “Preach the gospel often, and use words when necessary.”
- And finally, next time you celebrate the 4th of July by watching fireworks, let that also be your celebration of being free in Christ!
Romans 8:1-2 NIV
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
John 8:36 niv
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Challenge of the day:
There is now no condemnation for you, as you are no longer in chains to sin and death, but you are free….FREE INDEED! So be it.
