Independence Day – by Darlene Edmondson

“…If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”(John 8: 31, 32 NKJV).

The Emancipation Proclamation, ready to be signed, needed the president’s signature. However, Abraham Lincoln wasn’t ready. He had spent the entire morning shaking hands and his became slightly red and swollen from greeting visitors. “Let me wait until my hand is better, “ he reportedly asked. “I don’t want my signature to be shaky. I want people to know I’ve set the slaves free in confidence.” Lincoln signed with complete assurance. Freedom won!

We notice another emancipation proclamation written by Paul the apostle. After all, he knew a great deal about slavery having been imprisoned several times. The book of Galatians documents this information, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal 5:1 NKJV). Paul worried that many of the early Christians were falling back into legalism. Therefore, he urged them toward a renewed understanding about the law of unshackled grace (Romans 6).

Astoundingly, we see ‘grace and mercy beyond human reasoning’ exhibited as Jesus had quite a gathering that day the Pharisees brought before him a woman caught in the very act of adultery. Jesus tenderly held her hand, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” The woman stumbled away; forgiven, free, and saved from an early death. Jesus wanted the crowd to understand, ‘if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed’ (John 8:36).

“Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty we are free at last!” Martin Luther King Jr. 1929-1968

Darlene is a freelance Christian writer and an active member of FaithWriters. Contact