The reason to celebrate! Colossians 2:16-17

Good morning everyone,
Do you celebrate because more of a tradition and because that is the way it has always been done or do you celebrate because of the root of the celebration?  We are just getting ready to celebrate July 4, 2011 as the 235th year of freedom for our nation!  Do we just enjoy the food, fellowship, fireworks and another reason to party, or do we stop and thank our Heavenly Father for why we are celebrating?  When we have an anniversary of our marriage yearly, do we stop and thank our Father for another year of growing closer to Him and each other or do we just chalk it up to getting old together?  Colossians 2:16-17 says, 'Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.'  The part that really stands out to me in this passage is the word substance because really every good emotion or feeling of celebration that we exhibit really belongs to Jesus Christ.  James 1:17 says, 'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.'  Celebrations, concerts, sporting events and the list goes on and on; they will come and go but, our Lord and Savior never changes.  The point that He never changes should be what we focus on no matter what emotional state or mood that we occupy!  Thank Him for being able to laugh and celebrate together and never forget that He is the One that allowed you to have those emotions and feelings.  As you celebrate the 4th of July this year, remember that freedom comes at a price and the One who gave you the opportunity to enjoy that freedom is Jesus Christ when He paid the ultimate price by being nailed to the cross some 2000 years ago for you and me!
Your brother in Christ,
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