Happy 4th of July to everyone here in the US as we celebrate our nation’s independence. This week, we celebrate our nation’s autonomy as a novice nation when the thirteen original colonies formally adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. We have been fighting and celebrating ever since.
Those who call themselves Christians—Christ followers—have even more to celebrate than the average person. Click To TweetCelebration is an important activity we humans participate in as we interact with one another and rejoice over our good news and victories. We love to celebrate birthdays, engagements, weddings, graduations, and holidays around here. But guess what? Those who call themselves Christians—Christ followers—have even more to celebrate than the average person.
We recognized that we were sinners, and that Christ died for us sinners. We were invited into the family of God and we accepted that invitation, knowing full well that we did not deserve it. We understand that His grace and presence enable us to live for Him every day. These alone are enough to give Him eternal praise and honor. “Wait, there’s more!”
As Christian singles, we have more to celebrate than our non-believing counterparts. We realize, thanks to the insights from God’s Word, that our primary identity is in Christ, not our marital status (Galatians 2:20). We know that we are never alone, even if we don’t have a date or a spouse (Deuteronomy 31:6). We understand the wisdom in preparing ourselves for marriage and trusting Christ to bring us to the right person at the right time (2 Timothy 2:21). We recognize that singleness is, for some, an extended season of preparation and service, and for others, a lifetime of independence and usefulness (1 Corinthians 7:35).
As single Christians, we are not bound to the mores of denominational custom and church culture. We can take all our raw feelings and honest questions about our singleness to the Lord. We can be content in our singleness and still have a desire to be married that we submit to the Lord’s sovereignty and timing. And we can truly rejoice with those who rejoice (e.g. our best friend starts dating or gets married) and weep with those who weep (e.g. our friend breaks up or goes through a divorce).
We can do all this, and more, because we are spiritually free.
This Lord is the Spirit. Wherever the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 GW
So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free. John 8:36 AMPC
I have gained perfect freedom by following your teachings. Psalm 119:45 CEV
We don’t have to wait for the 4th of July every year, or until we get to church next weekend, to celebrate our personal freedom in Christ. Dull days and wearisome weeks become amazing adventures when we start celebrating and thanking God every day.
We are not limited to praising Him for all that He has already done for us (and that’s a lot!). We can celebrate and express gratefulness to God for all that He’s going to do in our lives.
I myself have recently been learning faith lessons I should have grasped earlier in my walk with Christ. I have been going through some extreme lessons in faith which involved my learning to praise and thank God for a specific and much-needed, time-limited provision before He provided it. He came through (of course).
I had to decide that I was going to remind Him several times a day of His promise of provision for my needs, and I had a great need.
I had to decide that I was going to create an atmosphere shift around me of Christ-inspired positivity, God’s power, and Holy Spirit transformation by thanking and praising God ahead of His provision. I had to celebrate His love for me and the freedom I have in Him every day.
I don’t like God’s cliffhangers, but He did provide for me at the very last minute.
This week I have several things to celebrate and rejoice in God for. There is something to rejoice and celebrate in any situation in life. I live by this. Do you?
In Corrie Ten Boom’s classic, The Hiding Place, Corrie just couldn’t get over her older sister Betsie’s positive attitude when they were thrown into a large, flee-infested dorm room for the women in Ravensbrück concentration camp. She insisted that God had not sent them to this dorm by accident and thanked God for even the fleas. Do you know what Betsie found out later? They were able to hold secret church services and share the gospel and God’s Word freely because the guards wouldn’t set foot in such a flea-infested place! Read the full excerpt from this true story in The Hiding Place, here: Excerpt from The Hiding Place.
I pray that you, too, will walk by faith, and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). I pray this week that you will examine your life and see all that God sees in you and all that He plans to do for you and through you.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:18 NASB
Freedom is a daily holiday when you can rejoice and celebrate all you have in Christ, single Christian. Get out there and celebrate!
