John 8:34-36 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
On July 4th, America remembers a bold declaration — a break from tyranny, a longing for a better government, and the birth of a nation built on liberty. The Founders risked everything to establish a new way of life, one where freedom could flourish. Their cry was clear: “We will no longer be ruled by kings who oppress–we will be governed by laws that reflect liberty and justice.”
But for believers, that cry still echoes deeper. We, too, are longing for a better government–but not one formed by men. We are yearning for a Kingdom not of this world, ruled not by flawed leaders, but by Messiah Yeshua, the Righteous King. We long for the day when the government will rest upon His shoulders (Isaiah 9:6), and peace will fill the earth as waters cover the sea.
Shabbat is a weekly taste of that coming reality. It is not just rest from labor — it is prophetic rest, a sign and shadow of the Messianic Age to come, often referred to as the Shabbat Millennium.
In Jewish thought, just as a Sabbath followed six days of creation, so too there will be six thousand years of human toil followed by a thousand-year reign of the Messiah–the final Shabbat.
As we light the candles of Shabbat and hear the sounds of fireworks overhead, we are caught between two celebrations — one looks back to national freedom, while the other looks forward to cosmic redemption. One was secured by revolution; the other will be fulfilled by revelation–when every eye shall see Him, and every knee shall bow.
Messiah Yeshua proclaimed true liberty when He stood in the synagogue and read from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me… to proclaim liberty to the captives.” (Luke 4:18)
He wasn’t talking about political chains, but spiritual ones. Through His death and resurrection, He broke the power of sin, shame, and death. That is the ultimate independence–freedom not just from Pharaoh or Caesar or king, but from everything that keeps us from entering into God’s presence.
This weekend, as America celebrates freedom and we, as believers, enter the rest of Shabbat, let us remember: the Founders wrote liberty on parchment, God engraved it in stone at Sinai, but through the Messiah, that same freedom is now written on our hearts—eternal, living, and unshakable.
Step into His prophetic reality — a rest is prepared for those who trust in Him, a freedom given that can never be taken, a Kingdom coming that cannot be shaken. So lift up your eyes and cast off every chain. This Shabbat and Independence Day, don’t just celebrate freedom–embrace it, proclaim it, and rest in it. Let your life be a living banner of unshakable truth that no darkness can silence: We are redeemed, we are empowered, and we are unstoppable–by the resurrection power of the King who reigns forever.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy Devotions. This devotional was originally published on Worthy Devotions and was reproduced with permission.
How to display the above article within the Worthy Suite WordPress Plugin.
[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]An ancient story is told of the Queen of Sheba. She sent two wreaths of roses to Solomon, one real and one artificial, to test his reputed wisdom. She defied him to detect the genuine from the artificial. Solomon at once directed that some bees be brought into the room and of course, they immediately flew to the real flowers and thought nothing of the counterfeit.
While the mighty men of David were warriors and could fight with the best of them — they also took time to relax and feast with King David.
One minister tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even! Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has hurt me!"
An Indian was walking in downtown New York City alongside a resident friend. As they approached a busy street corner in the center of Manhattan, the Indian seized his friend's arm and whispered, "Wait. I hear a cricket." "Come on!", the city boy sneered, "This is downtown New York -- how could you possibly hear a cricket?" His friend persisted however, "No - seriously, I do!"
When the children of Israel were enslaved under Pharaoh, they were forced to labor seven days a week, working relentlessly without a break. Can you imagine doing hard labor for years on end without a break? This was Israel’s reality in Egypt.
Many cultures thrive on foods that ferment for months or sometimes years. For foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, even a great wine or fine cheese, time is a critical factor. The tastiest, and many times most beneficial for our health take TIME. And those who have learned to appreciate it are blessed.
The world of social media produces a constant flow of profound debates. For example, last night a decorated journalist on Twitter offered a joy-rave that finally, dogs live in the White House again. Earlier rants about ice cream or the color scheme of Air Force One have now yielded to the political significance of pet dogs!