Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV

There is some controversy within the church about the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote directly to this topic bringing equality to the Lord and the Spirit. Remember the Trinity is like 3-in-1 oil. I love the Spirit of the Lord is freedom wherever the Holy One is.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1 NIV

Is there a yoke of some sort trying to enslave you? Stand firm and embrace the freedom that Christ has give you!

 ‘All things are lawful’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful’, but not all things build up. 

1 Corinthians 10:23 NRSV

I had to post the above for myself a number of years ago when a certain type of candy threatened to enslave me. It helped me remember the freedom Christ has given me. Do you fear freedom? Is there something that might get you?

Freedom in Christ is slightly different than American freedom from British rule celebrated July 4th. Lucky does not concern herself with what type of freedom, she is just terrified of all sorts of thunder, lightning and fireworks.

Her fear is really primal, animal fear. She was a rescue dog and makes no sense when it comes to these sounds. We have never tied her outdoors during a storm. Never threatened her with sleeping outside during late June or July.

If we take her out to ‘do her business’ and there is the slightest thunder (even in the distance) she is terrified. She will pull our arms off trying to get in any garage, even if it is not ours! Last evening there was someone on another street lighting ‘black cats’ the little tiny fire crackers. She was done.

I thought I might get her to tinkle a bit, but then someone else set off a bigger boom! and that was that. Within half an hour all the fireworks were exploding and we knew it was a lost cause. We had her sleep in her kennel rather than clean up a potential mess in the morning.

Do you celebrate the freedom Christ has won for you? Is your celebration only political and basically limited to one day per year? Does any of this give you pause that perhaps you could celebrate BOTH sorts of freedom and celebrate those freedoms more often?

Maybe gratitude is a better method than explosions? Choose your style!