" WORD of TRUTH Lighthouse ": "FREEDOM !"

Psalm 33:1-22 "REJOICE in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp; sing unto HIM with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto HIM a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. For the WORD of the LORD is right; and all HIS works are done in truth. HE loveth righteousness and judgment; the Earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. By the WORD of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of HIS mouth. HE gathereth the waters of the sea together as in heap: HE layeth up the depth in storehouses.

Let all the Earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of HIM. For HE spake, and it was done; HE commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: HE maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of HIS heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose GOD is the LORD; and the people whom HE hath chosen for HIS own inheritance. The LORD looketh from Heaven; HE beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of HIS habitation HE looketh upon all the inhabitants of the Earth.

HE fashioneth their hearts alike; HE considereth all their works. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear HIM, upon them that hope in HIS mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: HE is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in HIM, because we have trusted in HIS holy name. Let THY mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in THEE."

As we celebrate our American Independence, let us think for a moment about our freedoms. These liberties did not come without a cost. The blood of many was shed upon the soils of foreign nations as well as our own homeland, yet far too often we fail to remember this sacrifice. How quick we are to forget those who paid the ultimate price ! How ready we are to complain and then sit back while others die for what we enjoy ! Our freedoms are not rights to be abused. GOD has not given us the license to do what we want at the expense of righteousness. We are not free to go our own way without facing the consequences for our choices. It seems like everywhere we look freedoms are being violated, abused, and sacrificed. Today's text tells us, "Blessed is the nation whose GOD is the LORD" (v.12). Our liberty cannot be separated from GOD, for it is HE WHO ultimately gave it to us. However, our civil rights will only be enjoyed in relation to our acknowledgment of the LORD; the further away this nation moves from HIM, the fewer our freedoms will be until they eventually cease to exist.

We also must consider another, more essential freedom: spiritual liberty. Only those who are rightly related to GOD can experience it. Everyone who rejects CHRIST as their personal SAVIOR is enslaved to sin. True freedom comes only when a person puts his complete faith in CHRIST. JESUS said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32 pictured above). What is truth ? JESUS stated, "I AM the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE" (John 14:6 pictured above). Freedom from sin and condemnation comes only through HIM; HE paid the ultimate price. "If the SON therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36 pictured below). PNF

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Used with permission. www.featoday.org