The Fourth of July is now in the rearview, but letòòò½ÊÓƵ™s not forget why we celebrate. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s more than a day to gather with friends and family for a cookout, cool off at River Springs, or enjoy the spectacular fireworks hosted by the Owatonna Early Edition Rotary Club. While we all love a day off, especially when it extends into a long weekend, thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s not the real reason for the holiday.
The Fourth of July marks the date in 1776 when our founding fathers officially adopted the Declaration of Independence. It was the beginning of the United States of America, a nation founded on the ideals of liberty and justice. We became a country that values individual freedoms and thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s worth celebrating.
As our national anthem boldly declares, we are òòò½ÊÓƵœthe land of the free and the home of the brave.òòò½ÊÓƵ We enjoy so many freedoms that itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s easy to take them for granted. Our nation isnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t perfect because itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s governed by imperfect people, representing a wide range of political perspectives. There are countless opinions on what our future should look like and how to get there. Still, despite our differences, we all share a responsibility: to use our freedom to lift up and care for one another. That shared responsibility helps our nation succeed in fulfilling its founding promise of liberty and justice for all.
Scripture also calls us to love, care for, and serve our neighbors. Galatians 5:13òòò½ÊÓƵ“14 says:
òòò½ÊÓƵœFor you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: òòò½ÊÓƵ˜Love your neighbor as yourself.òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ
Freedom can easily become a tool to satisfy our own selfish desires, but God calls us to something better. He tells us to use our freedom to serve others in love. His desire is for us to be united first by loving and honoring God, and then by loving our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37òòò½ÊÓƵ“39). We love God by placing our trust in Jesus and holding fast to the truth of Scripture. And we love others by serving, helping, and blessing those around us not only when itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s convenient or personally beneficial, but consistently and sacrificially.
We live in an amazing community. But how much better could it be if we all made the daily choice to care for one another? If we used our freedom not just for personal gain, but to build others up?
This Fourth of July season, letòòò½ÊÓƵ™s reflect not just on the fireworks and festivities, but on the freedom weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve been given and the responsibility that comes with it. We live in the land of the free. Letòòò½ÊÓƵ™s freely choose to love our neighbors, serve our communities, and celebrate that kind of love together.