Freedom is a word that has been used a lot this past week. America celebrated 247 years of freedom from King George III’s efforts to extend English rule over her. The Declaration of Independence was written and signed by representatives from each of the colonies on July 4, 1776. With that document, a commitment to unalienable rights, “… that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”, was initiated along with a pledge from each signature of “our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

Eleven years later, May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention opened to discuss the Articles of Confederation, the boundaries that would be needed to manage the nation’s newfound freedom. The Constitution of the United States was approved by all 12 state delegations on September 17, 1787, and the republic form of government was established. On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights defining ten amendments to limit the power of the federal government, was ratified. With that, the federal and state governments, and the people, were yoked together to manage the burden of freedom.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30. A yoke is a wooden frame placed across the back of animals, joining them together in order to haul a heavy load. The yoke’s purpose is to evenly distribute the weight on both sides, making it possible for the animals to walk while bearing it. Alistair Begg, in his Truth for Life devotion, suggested, “Jesus uses this illustration to offer those who might follow Him the chance to find unparalleled freedom under His yoke. … not a freedom to do what we want but a freedom to do what we ought.” Jesus knew that once an individual embraced the freedom He offered, the burden of that freedom in this world could be as wearisome as life before, particularly if the focus stayed on the present. Jesus did not call on rules for all to follow. He called on all to follow Him, to take His yoke and walk in a relationship focused on the eternal. Freedom, be it individual, in business or in government, can be burdensome. But under Jesus’ yoke, the burden is light.

Freedom in America is grounded in limited government yoked to a responsible people, by design. John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Alistair Begg says that, with “His yoke upon our shoulders, we accept a newfound obligation to live freely under His perfect will. The issues of morality, sexuality, business, family – all these things and more are gathered under the yoke of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Obligation indeed, to live into the freedom Jesus’ yoke offers, to do not what we want but what we ought.

Prayer guide: Lord, thank You for Your Word and for the men You used to found this nation. I confess that I have been yoked to worldly stuff and have grown weary chasing freedoms outside of You, looking to wrong gods. Forgive me. It is a blessing to live in America! I have a responsibility, indeed an obligation to embrace freedom in this country under Your yoke by doing less of what I want and more of what I ought. Grant me strength to take Your yoke upon me and learn from You. Help me be the leader You expect me to be in my marriage, home, church and beyond. That is the dad You call me to be, and that is the dad my kids need to see. Amen.

A faithful father embraces freedom not to do what he wants, but what he ought.