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]In the sermon on the mount, Yeshua said, “You are the light of the world,” and commanded us to let our lights shine that we may give glory to our Heavenly Father. This world is becoming more ungodly and dark, and by deep contrast, the saints of the Lord will shine brighter! A candle in a bright room isn’t particularly significant or easy to notice. A candle in the darkness shines like a lighthouse and offers the only source of guidance for movement.
Is it me, or is the world going nuts? Have we’ve entered the “Twilight Zone”? However, the Bible gave us an understanding of what the last days would entail. We are witnessing the groanings of creation, the literal birth-pangs of the “Day of the Lord”, we also must be awakened and prepared for the coming HARVEST.
Charles Spurgeon was a minister often accused of being “controversial”. One day a friend of Spurgeon’s remarked, “So, I hear you are in hot water again.”
“No, I’m not the one in hot water,” …
As I’ve been speaking across the United States, I’ve been stressing the need for our spiritual foundation to be solidified, and how important it is right now for believers to be grounded on the rock that doesn’t move!
In the midst of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln called Vicksburg "the key to the Confederacy", and told his generals, "We do not yet have the key in our pocket!"
The world seems to be turning inside out, upside down! And while hearing the collapse of society may lead many to anger and resentment ... let's remember that life and death are in the power of the tongue! Remember that blessing and cursing should never come out of the same vessel! [ James 3:10 ] So despite how crazy the world is ... let's choose to bless this world!
Pompeii was a flourishing city in Southern Italy until 79 AD. Suddenly, for two days Mt. Vesuvius erupted and completely destroyed Pompeii in all its pomp. The city was covered in meters of ash and pumice for 1700 years until it was accidentally discovered in 1748.