When Are You Singing??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #235

Here in the USA we will celebrate “Independence Day”—The Fourth of July—a day when freedom from tyranny was proclaimed throughout the land.  We did accomplish that independence with God’s grace and many lives of devoted, committed men and women to the cause of freedom.  But my question today is, “Are you free?”  “Are you singing the songs of joy in The Lord, or the songs of death and despair?”   Jesus offers true freedom to those who come to Him in repentance of sin, and faith/belief/trust in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for my sin and yours!

“And ye shall know the truth,

and the truth shall make you free…

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free,

ye shall be free indeed.”  John 8:32 & 36

Jesus makes us free—free from sin, free from the power of the enemy, free from despair—for we belong to The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords and He puts a song in our hearts.  I simply want to share with you a picture of that “joy” even in the midst of trials, suffering or persecution.

“Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness

in the daytime,

and in the night his song shall be with me,

and my prayer unto the God of my life.”  Psalm 42:8

Paul and Silas’ had a song in the night.  What are you singing where you are?  Are you singing God’s song or your own?  I invite you to consider what Paul and Silas had in their hearts, the marks that were on their bodies—and the outcome of their trial (literally! Read the rest of the chapter!), and God’s amazing grace!

“And the multitude rose up together against them:

and the magistrates

rent off their clothes,

and commanded to beat them.

23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them,

they cast them into prison,

charging the jailor to keep them safely:

24 Who, having received such a charge,

thrust them into the inner prison,

and made their feet fast in the stocks.

25 And at midnight

Paul and Silas prayed,

and sang praises unto God:

and the prisoners heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake,

so that the foundations of the prison

were shaken:

and immediately all the doors were opened,

and every one’s bands were loosed.

 27 And the keeper of the prison

awaking out of his sleep,

and seeing the prison doors open,

he drew out his sword,

and would have killed himself,

supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying,

Do thyself no harm:

for we are all here.

29 Then he called for a light,

and sprang in,

and came trembling,

and fell down before Paul and Silas,

30 And brought them out, and said,

Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said,

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

32 And they spake unto him

the word of the Lord,

and to all that were in his house.

33 And he took them the same hour of the night,

and washed their stripes;

and was baptized,

he and all his,

straightway.

34 And when he had brought them into his house,

he set meat before them,

and rejoiced,

believing in God with all his house.”  Acts 16:22-34

As we celebrate our nation’s Independence/Birthday, may we look up to and depend upon our Lord, and sing songs of praise unto HIM—in the night, in the daytime, and touch the lives of others who need to hear the voice of conviction unto salvation.  May each of us celebrate the freedom that Jesus bought at Calvary!

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord

shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him

in whom they have not believed?

and how shall they believe in him

of whom they have not heard?

and how shall they hear

without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach,

except they be sent?

as it is written,

How beautiful are the feet of them

that preach the gospel of peace,

and bring glad tidings

of good things!”  Romans 10:13-15

So, my friends, what are we singing?  May our lives be a song and a testament of the freedom in Jesus Christ our Lord; never license but liberty, freedom from sin, not to sin—keeping our eyes on the prize, Jesus, that others may be drawn to HIM!

“Now the Lord is that Spirit:

and where the Spirit of the Lord is,

there is liberty.

18 But we all, with open face

beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,

are changed into the same image

from glory to glory,

  even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Amen and Amen!!!