Brenda Rodgers

Independence – Without Strings

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Brenda Rodgers

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One of God’s greatest gifts is the gift of choice – the gift of freedom – that He gave us from the beginning.

“The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” Genesis 2:15-17 (NLT)

Even Jesus was given the gift of freedom.

“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:17-18 (NIV)

Although the capability of every choice I make ultimately comes down to God’s provision, sometimes my choices give God more opportunity to show His blessing upon me.

“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.” Deuteronomy 30:15-16 (NLT)

Except for the blessing of living in the United States of America. This blessing has nothing to do with my choices.

It is by pure grace and mercy upon me that God chose for me to be born here – here – in America – the Land of the Free – the Home of the Brave – here.

Right now I could be one of these little girls in India enslaved and forced into the sex trafficking trade (As Our Own). I could be one of these children in Africa or Guatemala or Indonesia who live in poverty (Compassion). Or I could be a woman in Burkina Faso, the third poorest country in the world, with no clean water to drink (Engage Burkina).

But no. God blessed me with The United States. A place where I can live in peace. A place where I am treated with human worth. A place where I can dream without seemingly impossible obstacles to overcome first. A place where God’s original gift of freedom is realized.

There is nothing I did or do to deserve it. It is the blessing of Independence with no strings attached to me – just to God.

Thank you, God, for the blessing of this country, The United States of America, and for every man, woman, and child who went before me to give me my freedom, and for every man, woman, and child who right now is sacrificing their peace, their security, and their families for me. I know that “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required (Luke 12:48). Please help me, O Lord, to never take for grated this country or my independence. Help me to use your blessing to your glory. Amen.

Comments

3 responses to “Independence – Without Strings”

  1. Rebecca Dunning Avatar
    Rebecca Dunning

    Amen! Wow, thanks. Dropping by from Blog Frog to follow and hope you will too. http://www.rebeccalynndunning.blogspot.com

    Reply
  2. Betty Avatar
    Betty

    I remember a conversation with our daughter when we served in Bolivia about her homesickness for the USA. We talked about it being alright to be homesick, she was in good company, Jesus was homesick for heaven and His father while here on earth. Then we talk about being blessed because of coming from such a great country. this discussion went into talking about those young girls who lived in mud adobe huts near us without electricity, running water and why would God place them there and her in such a blessed country. Was she special, and if so what made her special, was it being a missionary kid, a USA citizen? She is a grown woman now, a missionary with three children and her understanding has grown in the Lord at the being blessed part. Those early conversation she draws upon as she teaches her children, it's all about Him, the freedom we have in Him. Christians all over the world live in prison, no freedom but are free and as blessed as we who live underneath the stars and stripes. Love this sentence of your blog It is the blessing of Independence with no strings attached to me – just to God and I add….no matter where we live. We're blessed because we are His, our freedom bought and paid for by the blood of the Lamb.
    I love this part of your post also.
    God's greatest gifts is the gift of choice – the gift of freedom – that He gave us from the beginning. Well put my sister in the Lord, well put.. encouraging post for me living in such an undeveloped country often needing reminding of the best blessing where ever I live Jesus lives with me…freedom walks around in my frail body daily….I am truly a blessed woman even with out a traditional 4th of July celebration….

    Reply
  3. The First Taste of Freedom

    […] a gift that each of us who were born in the United States received at birth – without any strings attached, without any effort on our own, without our choosing. We received the gift of living in a country […]

    Reply

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