On July 4th, America remembers a bold declaration ā a break from tyranny, a longing for a better government, and the birth of a nation built on liberty. The Founders risked everything to establish a new way of life, one where freedom could flourish. Their cry was clear: “We will no longer be ruled by kings who oppress–we will be governed by laws that reflect liberty and justice.”
Donāt stop now ā more truth and grace await.
In todayās culture, freedom is often defined as doing whatever you wantāliving without restrictions, chasing your happiness, and controlling your destiny. But when you dig into the Greek word eleutheros, meaning “free,” you discover that real freedom isnāt about cutting all tiesāitās about being connected to the right things. True freedom isnāt found in isolation, but in surrender to God.
Read on ā your spirit will be uplifted.
We often think of freedom as the ability to do what we want, when we want, without interference. So when Yeshua says things like āDonāt worry about tomorrow,ā āForgive seventy times seven,ā or āTurn the other cheek,ā they strike us as anything but freeing. They sound like burdens, not blessings — commands that restrict rather than release.
Donāt stop now ā more truth and grace await.
Tonight we’ll participate in the Independence Day celebration in Israel — and what a party! — shows, fireworks, music, dancing, everything under the sun!
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After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel finally crossed into the Promised Landāon the 10th day of Nissan, the very day they had been commanded to choose their Passover lamb [Exodus 12:3 , Joshua 4:19]. They couldnāt enter into their inheritance until a lamb was chosenāa powerful foreshadowing of the more excellent Lamb to come, in preparation for the Passover [Joshua 5:10], they were about to observe at Gilgal.
Continue ā this devotional isnāt done blessing you.
Tomorrow night, thousands will begin celebrating the feast of Pesach (Passover), the day we remember God’s merciful redemption of the Jewish people from Egypt. When the final plague struck Pharoh and the Egyptians in Exodus, those who were spared were the ones who applied blood to their doorposts as God warned. Interestingly, the blood that God required them to apply then was the blood of a spotless, unblemished lamb.
Thereās more encouragement just ahead ā read more.
As Scotland was declaring its independence from England in the 1300’s, the English were hunting for Robert Bruce of Scotland in an attempt to prevent his accession to the Scottish throne. In the search, the English put Bruce’s own bloodhounds on his trail. As they grew closer to apprehending him, Robert the Bruce found a small river, and he said to his foster-brother who was with him, “Let us wade down this stream for a great way, instead of going straight across, and so these unhappy hounds will lose the scent; for if we were once clear of them, I should not be afraid of getting away from the pursuers.”
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