Thursday, July 3, 2008

Happy 4th of July

This is 4th of July weekend. We celebrate Independence Day when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Freedom is a blessing. For all that is wrong with the United States of America, what a privilege to live in this country. As Christians it becomes very easy to take for granted our freedom to worship.

Our political independence points to a greater freedom. That is the freedom Jesus gives us. At the beginning of his ministry Jesus entered the synagogue at Capernaum and declared:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19

This is the Christians Declaration of Independence. It is Jesus Christ. Our Lord and Savior.

In spite of the holiday weekend you may not feel very free. You may feel that you are in bondage to the economy. Or you are in bondage to your health. Maybe you are in bondage to negative feelings or emotions. Maybe you are in bondage to fear. Maybe you are in bondage to a situation where you feel you are at a dead end and there is no way out.

Many of us will be celebrating this weekend with fireworks and all that fun stuff, all the while on the inside we don't feel like celebrating that much. But Jesus makes a declaration to you. He is annointed to preach good news to your poverty, proclaim your release form the prison, give you sight from your blindness, release you from your oppression, and proclaim God's favor and peace. Today, this is fulfilled. I can guarantee it. Now it's for you to receive it.

Have a great weekend!!!

Next weeks readings:

July 06
1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4
Acts 24:1-27
Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 18:16-18

July 07
1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17
Acts 25:1-27
Psalm 5:1-12
Proverbs 18:19

July 08
1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81
Acts 26:1-32
Psalm 6:1-10
Proverbs 18:20-21

July 09
1 Chronicles 7:1-8:40
Acts 27:1-20
Psalm 7:1-17
Proverbs 18:22

July 10
1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14
Acts 27:21-44
Psalm 8:1-9
Proverbs 18:23-24

July 11
1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18
Acts 28:1-31
Psalm 9:1-12
Proverbs 19:1-3

July 12
1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17
Romans 1:1-17
Psalm 9:13-20
Proverbs 19:4-5

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