I love fireworks. Watching them over Washington, D.C. a few years ago was unforgettable: the lights, the sounds, and everything they represent, including freedom, sacrifice, and celebration.

As July’s freedom celebrations fade, let’s not miss this important truth. None of us is truly “free”. We will always serve a master because our Designer designed us to experience maximum abundant life when we worship and serve Him. As July 4th rings freedom, the key freedom we need to steward daily is who your master. The harsh reality: you are always going to have a ruler over you. The good news: you get to choose who your ruler is (and you are always choosing even if you think you aren’t).

One option for master is God, perfect, loving, and the rightful King of everything. The other option is Satan, who wants your loyalty by convincing you that you don’t need a master at all, that you can rule yourself. It’s a lie. He doesn’t care about you; he only wants to use you for his own agenda.

Having taught in Kenya, Uganda, Iraq, Poland, and Ukraine during times of war and persecution, I saw firsthand what it means to live without freedom, and it deepened my understanding of how precious this choice really is.

But remember, YOU get to choose your master. But if you don’t actively choose God, your default is to drift toward self-rule, which really means Satan is in charge. There’s no neutral ground.

My hope for you, is that for you is that each Fourth of July would remind you of your freedom to choose your master. Take a moment this week to remember the One who died so you could freely choose Him: Jesus Christ. Choosing Him as Lord, not just Savior, was the most important decision of my life. It can be yours, too.

PRAYER

Dear King of Kings, thank You for giving everything for even the lowliest in Your kingdom, including me. Help me choose You, in all my decisions, every day. Thank You for the freedom I have. For us in America, thank you for the many political freedoms that we enjoy to worship you without persecution. For our brothers and sisters without these freedoms, we pray for their protection and thank you for their courageous hearts. Please give them peace, comfort, & community for support. Give me a humble, yielded heart, because You alone provide all I need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

“Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.” (Ephesians 6:9)

“And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left.” 1 Kings 22:19

“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world–he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” (Revelation 12:9-10)

Time to RENEW & REWIRE…

If you live in a free space, have you ever thought that you aren’t truly free and that you are always serving a master? Or did this open up you eyes to see how there is a spiritual war for your soul and you need to pick a side?

Be honest, in your daily life, how much thought do you put into your decisions to choose your master?

What prompts you to choose God as your master, following His plans and policies? How is your life different when you choose God’s path and you live in God’s love, truth, and forgiveness?

What prompts you to choose to follow Satan’s or your own self-centered policies? Has this brought peace, joy, or connection?

The times when you aren’t actively choosing one or the other (God or Self/Satan), you think you’re playing neutral, but in reality you are drifting away from God as your master. What circumstances prompt this passive drift? Craving comfort, minimizing pain, being too tired, stressed, or complacent/apathy?

We all periodically buy into the lie that we can overthrow God & be your own master. That we know better options for our circumstances & we have more power than Him.

What is the area(s) in your life where this plays out?

What are your first two steps you can take today to put Him back on the throne of your heart and submit to His authority, policies, and principles in these areas rather than rebelling against them?