A Milestone of Freedom – July 5, 2026
Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Galatians 5:1-15
July 5, 2026
We’re thinking about milestones this weekend. Actually, we’ve been thinking about that for weeks now! Everything we see around us, reminds us of the 250th birthday of our nation! And all of it makes me think back to the Bicentennial, 50 years ago. It was 1976, and I was in college at the time.
We humans tend to think in milestones, don’t we? Every year we celebrate another trip around the sun from the day we were born. And speaking of milestones – a number of us are celebrating our 70th trip around the sun. But whatever year it is, such birthdays and other anniversaries are important to us, because they help us remember the importance of the original event!
So, this is America’s semi-quincentennial. And I had to look that up. “Semi-quincentennial” is a word that literally means “half – ‘semi,’ of 500 – ‘quincentennial’ years.” Which is a strange thing to call it, if you think about it! Actually, it may have been better to have called it the “sester-centennial.” “Sester” being the Latin word that means “two and a half.” But, I guess it’s too late! So, it’s either half of 500, or it’s two and a half 100’s.
But it is an important milestone. And I’m calling it today “a milestone of freedom.” But in the spirit of “celebrating so that we remember,” let’s remember today that declaring our independence may have set us free – technically! But there was still a war to fight. It had already been raging for more than a year. And had we lost that war, the Declaration would have been moot! And we should also remember that the outcome of that war hung by a thread at times! There were moments it seemed like America’s freedom would be lost. And perhaps no time was worse that following winter at Valley Forge.
If you remember your history, you know that nearly 12,000 soldiers were camped there. But that Winter, nearly 2,000 of them died from disease, exposure, and malnutrition. Many had no shoes. Maybe you remember the accounts of men wrapping rags around their feet, and leaving bloody footprints in the snow. Food was scarce, clothing was inadequate, desertions increased every day, and Congress was weak and nearly broke. Many people questioned whether the Revolution would survive.
Yet, it did survive! It survived under the leadership of George Washington, and the arrival of Baron Friedrich von Steuben. He was the German officer who drilled Washingtons troops, and turned them into a disciplined fighting force. So, what emerged the Spring of 1778, was no longer a rag-tag collection of volunteers. It had become an army, capable of standing against the British.
May we remember that time, and be grateful for what brought us here, these semi-quincentennial years later. And we can remember the act of High Treason those 56 men committed the day they signed their names to that document, which stated, “With firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
And as think about all that, we can also think of these great words of Paul. And remember, he was writing to the Galatians from another difficult place. His version of Valley Forge was a Roman prison. But he learned there – like the Americans would learn in 1778 – that out of suffering comes perseverance, discipline, and hope – hope in the ultimate victory.
Paul wrote, “For freedom, Christ has set us free.” Now, that sounds almost redundant and obvious. “We are set free to be free.” But there’s more to it than that. He’s saying that we are free for a life of freedom. And he wasn’t talking about political freedom here – something the Israelites had longed for – for centuries! No, he’s talking about the freedom we have in Christ. Because of Jesus, we are free from guilt. We’re free from trying to earn God’s favor. (Because we have been given Grace – God’s undeserved favor!) We’re free from fear, and from the power of sin. And we’re free from the burden of having to prove ourselves before God!
So, on this day when we remember the milestone of freedom for our country, we can also remember the milestone of freedom in our faith! Yes, human freedom may be won on battlefields – and there have been many battlefields over these first 250 years. But, spiritual freedom, was won on a cross, and it was won through an empty tomb! “For freedom, Christ has set us free!”
Now, I do like one other thing Paul says here about freedom. Right at the end of our reading, he says, “Yes, you were called to freedom. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but rather in love be slaves to one another.”
What he’s saying here is contrary to what too many people in our world think about freedom. And I’ve said this before. Many people think freedom means they can do whatever they want. Many a disgruntled teenager has said that to their parents! “I can’t wait until I turn 18! Then I’ll get to do whatever I want.” Has anyone ever heard those words? (Have any of you said them to your parents?) Paul says, “No.” He says freedom doesn’t mean “self-indulgence” – doing whatever you want. Freedom means you are free to do as you ought to do! You are free to chart your own course in this life. And Paul would tell us that that means running the race of life “looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith!” That’s the freedom to which we are set free!
So, on this semi-quincentennial, celebrate! (This sester-centennial!) Fly the flag, enjoy the festivities. And give thanks for the men and women who, over 250 years, have sacrificed to preserve the freedoms we enjoy!
But! Don’t stop there! Remember the greater milestone of freedom. Remember the cross! Remember the empty tomb! Remember that Christ has set you free – not merely from something, but for something! You are free to love, free to forgive, and free to serve! All those things we have been talking about lately. And you are free to live without fear, because your life is held securely in the Grace of God.
“For freedom Christ has set us free!” Therefore, stand in that freedom. Live it with gratitude! Share it with joy! And use it not for yourselves, but, in love, use it for one another.
That is freedom worth celebrating, not just this week, or this semi-quincentennial year, but every day of our lives!
Prayer
Eternal God, we stand in awe of your love for us, and we stand in amazement at your Grace. We thank you for the freedom we have in this country, and for those who sacrificed everything to declare it, and preserve it. And we thank you for the sacrifice you made through Jesus Christ, that we can know true spiritual freedom. Grant us your strength as we look to him to guide us and protect us in our faith and in our lives. And fill us with his love and his joy, for we pray in his name, Amen.