day no. 16,701: the freedom to pay what we owe

"Freedom is not just so we can do what we want but so that God gets what He deserves: pure worship and a righteous society that acknowledges Him." — Raymond Simmons, The Confessional County

The freedom to do whatever you want is not the freedom to not do whatever you don't want. You may be permitted do whatever you like and still not be able to stop yourself from doing whatever you don't like. 

Romans 7:19, 24

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do... O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

There will always be good things you want to do, but can't quite and evil things you want to stop doing, but can't quite discontinue. There is no hope in personal will power. That is no freedom found in felling all the fences. Liberty requires limits. Liberated from what? Liberated by whom? Liberated for what?

Romans 7:25

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are saved from sin by Christ for the glory of God.

John 10:9

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

He alone is the door. He is the access point to the gates of Heaven. It is Heaven because the gates keep the evil out. It is Heaven because inside the gates are pasture to play to our hearts' content.

Galatians 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Don't go poking around the fence or spend too much time wondering what's outside the door. Whatever it is, it is outside of Christ, outer darkness where the soundtrack is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

God deserves more than your attendance. He is owed your participation in celebration.