Corbin Riley

Jesus declared "You are the light of the world"—not as aspiration, but as present reality. As Christian light bearers, we expose darkness through authentic faith and attract others through genuine love. This summer, embrace your identity as light in your community. Light multiplies when shared, creating ripple effects through ordinary interactions. Walking as children of light requires intentionality, choosing to illuminate God's love even when it's easier to blend in with darkness.

In our achievement-oriented culture, we often approach spiritual growth like a self-improvement project. But Jesus reveals a different path—one that depends not on our effort but on our connection. When Jesus chose the metaphor of the vine and branches, He wasn't just making a nice agricultural comparison. He was revealing the fundamental secret of spiritual transformation: spiritual growth through connection happens when we understand our complete dependence on Christ.

What if the greatest freedom you could experience came not from doing whatever you want, but from binding yourself completely to God's service? On this Independence Day, as we celebrate liberty, it's worth remembering what our Founders understood - that true freedom flows from a higher source. They recognized our rights come not from government but from our Creator. Real freedom isn't independence from all authority—it's choosing the right authority to serve.