Be proud of our country, but also the liberty we enjoy in Christ

Next week is one of the most celebrated and most important holidays in our nation as we all take the opportunity to honor our country’s origins. July 4th is a day where we think back to our nation’s beginning, and we take pride in the courage our forefathers had to declare independence and found a nation based on freedom and liberty. We, except for during tax season, are very patriotic people, and we will always be proud to be Americans whether it is during sporting events, times of national crisis, etc.

Many of you even served our country in the military at various points in your lives. We are PROUD of our country.

I often wonder if this pride transcends national pride and translates into being PROUD to be a Christian. The fact that we are covered in the blood of Christ unites us much more strongly than the bond we have as Americans, yet often times we do not wear the name Christian publically though we would never hesitate to call ourselves Americans.

We are free politically in this life because we are Americans, but we are free from sin eternally because we are washed in the blood of Christ (Gal. 5:1). This gives us our real liberty.

So be proud of our country, but also be proud of the liberty we enjoy in Christ and be always ready to wear the name Christian in every aspect of our lives. We are free to worship because we are Americans, but we are free from sin and death because of God’s grace shown through the blood of Christ.

Blan Chrane is the Minister with the Northcrest Church of Christ You can listen to his morning devotionals “The Minister Minute” on KNES 99.1 Monday through Friday at 6 a.m.