Hello ,
In the last days of the Civil War, the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia, fell to the Union army. Abraham Lincoln insisted on visiting the city. Even though no one knew he was coming, slaves recognized him immediately and thronged around him. He had liberated them by the Emancipation Proclamation, and now Lincoln's army had set them free. According to Admiral David Porter, an eyewitness, Lincoln spoke to the throng around him:
"My poor friends, you are free--free as air. You can cast off the name of slave and trample upon it .... Liberty is your birthright."
Lincoln went on to tell them about what their freedom cost, and that they should not abuse the freedom that they were now enjoying by disobeying the laws of the land.
That is very much like the message Jesus gives to those whom he has liberated by his death and resurrection. Jesus gives us our true birthright--spiritual freedom. But that freedom isn't an excuse for disobedience; it forms the basis for learning and obeying God's laws.
God gives us true freedom when we come to Him, but this freedom is not given to us to abuse, but to help us be all that He has designed us to be. Happy 4th of July!
Have a great day and God bless!
