This week we celebrate the birth of these United States of America and take great joy in our freedoms. We remember those who have gone before us, fighting, sacrificing, and giving their lives that we might be free. Though we live in a time of political unrest, of economic struggles, of moral decline, those of us living in this country can still rejoice in great freedoms – for we are free from tyranny and slavery; free from religious oppression; free to make choices in life and enjoy the wonder and beauty of this country. We are richly blessed. An old hymn written by Samuel Smith reminds us of what has been secured and preserved for us through the years.
My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountainside let freedom ring!
My native country, thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills, thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills like that above.
Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom’s song:
Let mortal tongues awake, let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.
Our fathers’ God, to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing;
Long may our land be bright With freedom’s holy light;
Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King.
– Written by Samuel Smith
However, as great as our freedom is in this land, the greatest freedom we have is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Through His death, burial, and resurrection we have been set free from the bondage of sin, the eternal judgment of sin, and the curse of sin. We have been set free to live in Christ, to enjoy the blessings of salvation which cost Jesus His life but is freely given to us; these blessings are given to us to enjoy now as well as blessings reserved for us in eternity. We are free to know the grace of God which gives us exactly the opposite of what we so rightly deserve, the mercy of God which looks upon us in His favor and forgives us of all sin, and the love of God which sent His Son to secure our salvation and adopts us as His own children. On this day of celebrating national freedom, may we celebrate the gift of our Lord’s free grace and the true freedom given to us in Jesus Christ. … you will know the truth and the truth will set you free… So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8.32, 36).
Self-righteous souls on works rely, And boast their moral dignity;
But if I lisp a song of praise, Each note shall echo, Grace, free grace!
‘Twas grace that quickened me when dead; ‘Twas grace my soul to Jesus led;
Grace brings a sense of pardoned sin, And grace subdues my lusts within.
’Tis grace that sweetens ev’ry cross, ’Tis grace supports in ev’ry loss;
In Jesus’ grace my soul is strong, Grace is my hope and Christ my song.
’Tis grace defends when dangers near; By grace alone I persevere;
’Tis grace constrains my soul to love— Free grace is all they sing above.
Thus ’tis alone of grace I boast, And ’tis in grace alone I trust;
For all that’s past grace is my theme— For what’s to come ’tis still the same.
Thro’ endless years of grace I’ll sing, Adore and bless my heavenly king;
I’lI cast my crown before his throne, And shout free grace to him alone.
Grace reconciles to every loss, And sweetens every painful cross;
Defends my soul when danger’s near; By grace alone I persevere.
When from this world my soul removes To mansions of delight and love,
I’ll cast my crown before his throne, And shout, Free grace, free grace alone!
– Written by William Gadsby
Living in the USA and living in Christ – we have much to be thankful for today –
Terry Burlingame
My Morning Desk 