Can you believe that a full month of summer has passed already? Crazy how fast time flies! It’s been a really good summer so far. We’ve already seen God do some amazing things during VBS with the kids and then Centrifuge Camp with the teens. We’ve even seen Him impacting the lives of the adults who were helping to lead during those events! I’m so thankful that we serve a God who “…so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him”
(John 3:16-17).
What a beautiful reminder of the gospel. The salvation and freedom given to us through Christ if we only believe in Jesus and answer yes to the call to follow Him. Christ came to set us free! This month here in the USA we celebrate the 4th of July and the freedom that we have because of those who have sacrificed and fought for it. As amazing as it is (and it is!), sadly that freedom does not apply to everyone everywhere nor fully solve the ultimate problem of this universe and everything in it being broken by sin. Therefore, we are all in need of a different kind of freedom. A kind that goes beyond the borders of any country. One that only God can offer because only God can give it.
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to free and fix our eternity. Something no mere human or even group of humans could do for any of us even if they wanted. But Jesus being fully God and fully human could and did because of the love He has for His creation which includes us! So this July, I want to encourage you as we celebrate and give thanks for the freedom we have as a nation to also take time to remember, give thanks, and celebrate the eternal freedom we can have when we say yes to Jesus because, “the saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15).
Grace and Peace,
Mike Motta
