The other day, we decided to go for some gelato at our favorite little place of which I can never remember the name. I said, “Let’s go get some ice cream at Piccodio’s.” My daughter quipped, “Mom, it’s Piccomolo. Piccodio means “little god.” Hmmm. Maybe it is better named for me “little god.” How many things in our lives can be piccodios?
On this Independence Day, I remember the great cost of freedom as a child of God. Paul tells us in Galatians that it is God’s Will for us that we have freedom from a yoke of slavery. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. What are we slave to in this land of the free and home of the brave? This is not an excuse to be free from responsibility, but a call to not let any other person or thing control us and be an idol, or little god in our lives.
If we have people in our lives that control us (a boss or a spouse or a child, for that matter), we must be careful that they do not become false gods in our lives. Appropriate submission is one thing, but elevating them to a position of controller of our lives is another altogether. That is why the Scriptures tell us to do our work heartily as for God and not for man. We will do a better job for God and not feel the yoke of bondage in serving others if we choose to please God. Anything that replaces God in our lives can be an idol. Not only people but things can cause us a heavy yoke of slavery to them. We are wise to consider what things or people can jeopardize our freedom that comes at such great cost.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Free from little gods and big yokes of slavery to them. He sets us free from all bondage, even the piccodios. This Independence Day, let us remember every freedom we have and give thanks to our Source of this freedom. In some of the emails I receive on appreciating our troops, there is a line at the bottom that says, “There are only two people that have ever died for you—Jesus and the American soldier.” I take time today to give thanks for the freedom that both have offered me.
If it’s raining where you are today and fireworks are questionable, here’s a freedom fireworks celebration for you: