Independence

In a pamphlet he published called “Common Sense,” Thomas Paine expresses the last straw that pushed him over the ledge toward independence from Great Britain.

No man was a warmer wisher for reconciliation than myself, before the fatal nineteenth of April 1775, but the moment the event of that day was made known I rejected the hardened, sullen-tempered Pharaoh of England for ever; and disdain the wretch that with the pretended title of FATHER OF HIS PEOPLE, can unfeelingly hear of their slaughter, and composedly sleep with their blood upon his soul.

Great Britain’s king shed his citizens’ blood without recourse, and the colonists felt they had no choice but to break from him. I am grateful for their bravery and sacrifice, which created a haven for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for me. I am proud of my country and thankful to be a born citizen, yet I have dual citizenship. My citizenship in God’s Kingdom supersedes and will outlast my citizenship in this country.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”Philippians 3:20

To break from their country’s king for freedom, the colonists shed blood as the king had shed their blood. For my spiritual freedom from the law of sin and death, God shed His own blood for me, and ironically, the more dependent on God, my true Father, I allow myself to be, or more accurately recognize myself to be, the more free I become. The difference, is that my heavenly Father loves me with an intimate and infinite love.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19

Paul writes,

For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.”I Corinthians 7:22-23

Our freedom is rooted in love expressed in the giving of Jesus’ life for ours.

Let freedom ring.

2 thoughts on “Independence”

  1. Maria Morandini

    Such a good reminder of the source of my freedom. I take enormous pride in my self sufficiency, yet, whenever I bow to “my” plans, “my” wants, and yes, even my fears, I lose the very independence I crave. The reason? I lose sight of God’s intended purpose for me when he called me to a personal love relationship with Jesus. It’s in that intimacy that I arrive at the central source of power and freedom. It is that trinitarian glorious relationship that fills my heart with love that spills over. I in Him, He in me….

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