“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.² Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.³ For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.⁴ Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.⁵ For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.⁶ For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

 Galatians 5:1-6

The natural position of life (for all living things) is to be free. A caged animal, a child in a crib, a people of a commonwealth, plants, creatures both small and great desire Freedom. There is yet the attempt to afflict bondage, control, or peonage upon others in one form or another. The lack of freedom is at other times self-imposed through decisions or lack of decisions that facilitate one’s liberty (freedom).

Romans 8:1-2, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Adam, our Federal Head, caused humanity to lose our freedom through disobedience to God. All of creation has suffered (Romans 8:21-23), and now groan, desiring to be free.

The movie Braveheart, with Mel Gibson (William Wallace) in Scotland’s quest to gain independence from England, depicts the human spirit and sacrifice needed to walk free. In the movie after Wallace is captured and brought to England to face the penalty of treason; he is suspended on a hurdle, hung, and quartered. Given the opportunity to resend his position or die, he shouts, “FREEDOM”! Christ makes the sacrifice for Freedom, on the Cross of Calvary. He is suspended between earth and heaven, striped of His robe, pierced in His side, offered to come down, and chose to remain on the Cross (Philippians 2:8). Christ grants the opportunity for all to be free, yet it is up to the individual to appropriate this gift, by accepting the Sacrifice. Christ shouts from Calvary, “FREEDOM”!

Prayer 

God as we Celebrate Black History in America, we celebrate the liberty that all can have in Christ. All lives matter, all lives desire to be free, help us to realize our Freedom in Christ, which is for all of eternity.

Amen!