Thursday; June 19

On June 19, 1865 General Gordon Granger read the following words to those who had gathered in Galveston, Texas: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”  General Order Number 3 changed Texas … and brought America one step further to the goal of freedom. 

Can you imagine what it would have been like to have been a slave in Texas on what has become Juneteenth?  While freedom had been in the works for a while, at that moment their individual lives had changed!  Interestingly, there is a parallel found today – not because we are indentured servants, but because we are sinners.  You see, there is freedom available to all of us.  When we sin, we become slaves of satan – doomed to a life a service to him.  However, centuries ago, Jesus died so that we might live.  The Apostle Paul would explain it this way, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:1-2).

Let’s be excited about our freedom!  We have a new life – lets go out and live it for God.

Think About It!

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