This weekend is the Fourth of July. It is all about “freedom” and “liberty” and America. It is about remembering when America became a nation. It is about Celebration and Fireworks and summer fun. It is about Americans coming together to honor their country EVERYWHERE...from the North, South, East and West men, women and children will gather to watch fireworks, have picnics, swim, laugh, play and think about what wonderful and awesome freedom we are privileged with in the country of America.

I am thinking now of the words to the “Pledge of Allegiance”….” I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, One Nation, Under God………”

To “pledge our allegiance” MEANS something deep.

Websters Collegiate Dictionary says it speaks of “faithfulness, loyalty and DEVOTION…..” It is actually a type of worship!! To “pledge our allegiance” to something is to come into alignment with it, to respect and honor it, to keep its laws and governing rules.

If we decided that we could simply say the “pledge of allegiance” with our lips about this country and yet never keep its laws or honor and respect those in government position we would be living a sad and dishonorable lie. Not only that, we would soon be behind bars!

Have you ever met a person who has been unfaithful , disrespectful and disloyal to you? They speak wonderful swelling words with their lips and devotedly “pledge their allegiance” to you, but underneath those syrupy words so sweet sounding beats a heart of manipulation and strategic deception! They may actually be waiting for just the right time to lay a stumbling block in your path or betray you in some way.

It happened to Jesus with Judas.
It happens in relationships a lot these days!

It happens sometimes to Christians who have opened themselves up to trust someone with a very sensitive issue . They have later realized their “friend” was really their “enemy” and it cost them a lot.

It is easy to say words. It is not easy to walk the words out . It takes perseverance and determination. When we commit ourselves to Christ and receive Him as our Savior, we also receive Him as Lord and that Lordship DOES involve our allegiance.

Some time ago a song came out called “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb”…it was a very touching song. I thought a long time about that title! We truly should pledge our allegiance to Jesus Christ! We truly should be worshipping Jesus Christ every day . When I say “worship” I am talking about worshipping Him in the way that pleases HIM, not us. I am talking about a Life of Worship, a Daily Walk with Him that is far beyond a few moments of emotional high brought about by singing a beautiful slow worship song.

Worshipping God is in the heart of a man (or woman). It is not a slow song nor is it the manner in which a slow song is sung either at church or elsewhere. It is a LIFESTYLE. It is a lifestyle of prayer, obedience, love and compassion. That is what real worship is. It is worship which honors God in both spirit and truth.

Jesus also told the woman at the well in John 4 that “the hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” The Eye of God is able to discern the true spirit of the person who is “worshipping” or declaring their faithfulness to Jesus. The Eye of God is able to discern, determine and judge for Himself Who IS a worshipper and who IS NOT a worshipper. God knows who seeks Him daily. God knows who obeys His word even when it hurts to do so. God is aware of who is praying and of who is silently seeking Him from deep in their heart of hearts.. He alone knows who it is that is worshipping Him both in Spirit and in Truth.

It is a very dangerous thing to judge a person for any reason, but especially dangerous to judge someone for their method of worship by what is seen only on the outside through human eyes.

Matthew 7:1 says “Judge not that you be not judged.” The meaning of that word in that scripture is “to condemn, to call in to question, to punish”. We are not to take it upon ourselves to dole out condemnation to others who worship differently that we do .

God’s Word is ALL ABOUT FREEDOM!

His word says in Romans 8:1 that “there is NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus , who walk after the Spirit and not according to the flesh.” “We have been given freedom from the law of sin and death because of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus!” There is actually a “LAW” of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus! It is a LAW that replaces the LAW of sin and death…meaning Jesus has OVERCOME sin and death IN US!!!

If Jesus Forgives us, we are to Forgive others! This is a LAW! IT is the basis of the LAW of the SPIRIT of LIFE!!!! Forgiveness was what Jesus purchased for us each one on the Cross of Calvary! He made a WAY where there was no way. He did it by His Blood shed for us in obedience to His Father! He BECAME sin and death FOR US…that we might be able to have eternal life with our Father who is in Heaven! Over and over I meditate on the total awesomeness of that statement…I am NOT condemned by God when I choose to walk after His Holy spirit….I CANNOT be condemned because it is against God’ s LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE!!!

This is the TRUTH that makes me want to Worship God! This is the Law of the SPIRIT of Life that makes me want to Worship God! This is what makes me want to sing songs to Jesus, both fast and slow….But my heart and life MUST line up with this Allegiance I am singing about. His Word of Truth must ring true in my life and if it does not and if I am not walking in the Spirit of God, He will let me know. If I bring my sins against Him to His feet, lay them down, truly repent for them, He WILL forgive me! He WILL forgive You! It is His Spiritual Law of Life through Christ Jesus which has SET US FREE!

Right there is a place for a very large Firework set to go off spiritually!! BOOM!!! I’m SET FREE!!!! I am no longer ENSLAVED to condemnation from God because He made a way to Forgive Me….and you…..and you……and all of us who accept His Truth and His Son Jesus!

If God Himself forgives, we must also forgive.

If God Himself has made a way of compassion and mercy to receive to Himself even the vilest sinner who repents, then we must learn that He is angry when we attempt to stand in His place making our “judgments” about how someone else is living or worshipping God.

He made the Way. If we follow His Way (Jesus), we will all be True Worshippers. We will not just be singing slow songs of worship but we will truly be followers of Jesus and His Way, loving, reaching out, forgiving, walking in the compassion and the love of Christ.