Declaration of Dependence: An Independence Day Devotional - Finding True Freedom

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts" 1 Peter 3:15

Finding True Freedom: The Divine Transaction

Take a minute to close your eyes. I want you to imagine what your ultimate freedom looks like. Are you no longer working to support yourself or your family? Are you constantly on vacation? Are you traveling or simply able to dedicate your time and attention to your hobby? 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 fireworks light up the sky and we celebrate liberty, it's worth remembering what our Founders understood about freedom. They didn't see liberty as license to do whatever pleased them. Instead, they recognized that true freedom flows from a higher source.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident," they wrote, "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." Notice where they said our rights come from—not from government, not from human decree, but from our Creator. The Founders understood that real freedom is rooted in Divine Purpose.

Freedom's True Foundation

Thomas à Kempis captured this paradox centuries earlier: "I am your poor servant, bound to serve you with all my powers, praising you without ever becoming weary." This sounds like the opposite of freedom, doesn't it? Yet Paul embraced the same identity, calling himself a "bondservant of Christ Jesus" (Romans 1:1).

John Adams wrote, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is

wholly inadequate to the government of any other." He understood that political freedom without spiritual grounding becomes chaos. True liberty requires choosing to serve something greater than ourselves.

The Revolutionary Exchange

À Kempis promises that those "who give themselves gladly to your most Holy service will possess great grace." This mirrors the revolutionary principle our Founders grasped—that by submitting to God's authority, we find genuine freedom. Consider George Washington, who could have become America's king but chose instead to relinquish power. He knew what Jesus taught: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant" (Matthew 20:26). Real greatness, real freedom, comes through service.

Trading Lesser for Greater

"They who cast aside all carnal delights for your love will find the most sweet consolation of the Holy Ghost," à Kempis continues. The Founders made tremendous sacrifices—their fortunes, their safety, their comfortable lives—because they valued freedom more than comfort. This reflects Christ's parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field" (Matthew 13:44). Freedom isn't free—it requires trading lesser things for what truly matters.

The Narrow Path to Liberty

Finally, à Kempis speaks of entering "the narrow way" and casting aside "all worldly care." Jesus said this way leads to life (Matthew 7:14). The Founders chose this narrow path—the difficult road of creating a nation under God rather than the easier path of remaining under earthly rule. Benjamin Franklin pondered this spiritual dimension: "God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?"

True Independence

As we celebrate Independence Day, remember that our political freedoms point to a greater spiritual truth. The liberty to pursue happiness isn't the freedom to chase every desire—it's the freedom to discover and fulfill God's purpose for our lives. When we're finding true freedom, we discover what Jesus promised: "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). Our Founders declared independence from earthly tyranny to establish dependence on Divine Providence. They understood that real freedom isn't independence from all authority—it's choosing the right authority to serve.

Daily Goal: This Independence Day, as you watch fireworks burst in the sky, take a moment to declare your own "dependence" on God. Identify one area where you've been pursuing freedom through your own will rather than His. Write it down, pray over it, and commit to finding true liberty by aligning that area with God's purpose. Remember: our ultimate freedom isn't found in doing whatever we please, but in living out God's will for our lives.

Always improve the present moment.

~Corbin Riley