Freedom That Lasts Beyond the Fireworks

The burgers will sizzle. The flags will wave. Kids will chase sparklers across the lawn while the sky explodes in red, white, and blue.

But if you pause for just a second, between the fireworks and the brats, you might feel it.

That quiet ache.
That tug in your gut.
That question burning under the celebration:

What am I doing with the freedom I’ve been given?

Maybe you’ve asked yourself that in the quiet moments… what is this freedom for?

Freedom is forged through fire.

Our freedom was fought for and forged in the fire. 

Brave men and women laid down their lives, comforts, and convenience so we can enjoy the freedoms taken for granted. 

This should inspire us.

To be disciplined.
To show up when it’s hard.
To stay grounded when everything else is shaking.
To step up for your family.

That kind of fire shapes individuals and nations.

And in America’s earliest days, that inner fire was already burning.

America’s birth was tied to something eternal.

John Quincy Adams once said America’s birth was “indissolubly linked” to the birth of Christ.

He explained that America’s foundation was poured with principles straight from Jesus's life: truth, sacrifice, grace, and justice.

But principles only matter if we live them. 

What if this year’s Independence Day was your wake-up call?

To stop waiting.
To start building.
To truly live Jesus’ principles. 

Jesus didn’t just die to save us from something; He rose to empower us for something. That "something" includes integrity in your business, faith in your leadership, and boldness in your mission.

You want a better nation? Start by being a better parent, spouse, friend…

Live justly.
Walk humbly.
Love sacrificially. 

Those aren't platitudes. They’re how we become individuals who leave a legacy that lasts longer than the fireworks.

Don’t just celebrate freedom—steward it

This July 4th, grill the burgers. Watch the show. 

But also light a fire in your soul. One that says, 

“I will live with kingdom principles.
I will lead with Christlike strength.
And I will not waste my freedom on comfort when I was called to greatness.”

Because real freedom isn’t the absence of struggle. It’s the presence of purpose.