As we celebrate this 4th of July weekend, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy. Yet if we’re honest, it’s easy to take these freedoms for granted. We live in a nation where we can gather freely, worship openly, and speak boldly—blessings that many around the world still long for. And while we’re quick to celebrate these freedoms with fireworks and barbecues, how often do we pause to truly give thanks—not just to our nation’s founders or our brave service members, but to the Lord, the ultimate Giver of every good gift?
Throughout the Psalms, we are reminded to give thanks. Psalm 107:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever” . Thankfulness is not just a polite response; it’s an act of worship that recognizes God’s hand in our lives. In Luke 17, Jesus heals ten men who had leprosy. They go to show themselves to the priests and are declared clean, but only one returns to give thanks. In Luke 17:17 Jesus asks, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?”. That story is a powerful reminder of how often we can receive from God and forget to return to Him with gratitude.
We are not much different from the nine. We pray, God answers. We’re blessed, we move on. We see His provision, but forget His name. We enjoy His protection, but fail to thank Him for it. This weekend, as we reflect on our freedom as Americans, let us also reflect on our freedom in Christ—the freedom from sin, shame, and death itself. As John 8:36 tells us, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”.
Gratitude keeps our hearts and minds planted in the fullness of the freedom we’ve been given. It reminds us that we are not self-made, but grace-made. It turns our hearts from pride to praise. So, let’s not be like the nine who forgot. Let’s be like the one who returned, fell at Jesus’ feet, and simply said “Thank You.” May our hearts overflow with thankfulness—not just for our nation’s blessings, but for the unshakable, eternal freedom we have in Christ. And may this be a weekend not only of celebration, but of deep gratitude for the hand of God upon our lives.
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