Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day! What a great day! Fireworks – parades – friends – family - a day of celebration honoring our country’s independence. I love Independence Day! It’s the basis of our country, our celebration of freedom.

We are taught from an early age to be independent – to learn to feed ourselves; dress ourselves; do it ourselves. We cherish the first time we can walk to our friend’s house alone or ride our bike around the block without Mom or Dad. We can’t wait to drive ourselves to school; to move out of our parent’s house; to be on our own. With all of the talk and striving to become independent, no wonder the Christian life seems so hard – the Christian life where we are taught we should be totally dependent (not independent) on God. How can that be? That is exactly the opposite of what we’ve been taught and strived for all of our lives. No wonder it seems so difficult.

But, when you really think about it, maybe it’s not all that complicated. (Right, you say!) When we truly turn our focus on God and become totally dependent on him, aren’t we really just declaring our independence from other things? Our independence from worldly wants and desires. Our independence from greed. Our independence from worry. Our independence from self reliance. Our independence from anger and hatred. So today as you celebrate our country’s independence, remember what our forefathers were fighting for in their fight for independence – the freedom of religion – freedom to choose how they (and we) could serve and worship God – not freedom from God. They declared their independence in order that they could be dependent on God!

As you celebrate our country’s independence, don’t forget to celebrate your dependence on a God who loves you and will never forsake you. Happy Independence Day!