Freedom is what Christ offered us through salvation. While the United States celebrates July 4th as Independence Day, we have our personal Independence Day, the day we accepted Christ as our savior and pledged our allegiance to Him. Galatians 5:1 states, “It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].” That yoke is sin. Luke 16:13 stands as a message to us not to allow other things to compete with our love for Christ and each other. “No servant 
can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand devotedly by the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon [that is, your earthly possessions or anything else you trust in and rely on instead of God].”
Galatians 5:13-14 admonishes us to remember this: You were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another. For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].”
Celebrate your Independence Day, whether to honor freedom from tyranny or freedom from the bondage of sin. Let us love one another as Christ loves us. God Bless You and God Bless America.
