Two weeks ago, our nation celebrated Her 235th Independence Day — a day that we can all agree could not have been possible without the blood, sweat and tears that have been shed from every color and creed over the centuries.
Of course, the fight for ‘Independence’ was unique for Africans. As some put it, our loyalty was not with a person or place, but with a principle. Our principle was so great, that it lead one of our ancestors to become one of the first recognized martyrs of the Revolution. On March 5, 1770, Crispus Attucks, who was of Native American and African descent, was the first shot to death by the Redcoats in the Boston Massacre.
Despite the ups and downs of our nation, we can always retrace our footsteps and smile at the distance that we have covered.
As we celebrated our independence with music, fireworks, Nathan’s Famous and whatever else we could throw on the old sizzling grill, I hope we remained cognizant of an even greater Independence that we have through dependence on Christ Jesus.
As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we experience freedom from bondage, freedom from the Law, freedom from the power of sin, freedom from death, all through our dependence on the power of His blood.
As Romans 8:2 tells us, “because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
But in our freedom, we have a responsibility of service. Though we are free from the evils and principalities of the world, we are encouraged to mimic Christ and become lowly servants and stewards.
“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible (1Cor 9:19).”
There is no freedom like that in Christ, and there is no better way to celebrate it than in one body. I hope that you and yours had a healthy and blessed 4th of July!
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