EMBRACE FREEDOM JESUS PROVIDES
It was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. Years ago, my daughter, her two little boys and I had traveled several hours the day before to see my son-in-law graduate from Navy boot camp. When the ceremony started, a huge metal garage door opened directly across from where we sat. Some 350 men and women were marching in place in their dress uniforms.
That in itself can give you goose bumps, but what was so beautiful was the huge snowflakes that were falling from the sky. Then it hit me: these young men and women were dedicating their lives, and their families, to protect my freedom, no matter what the weather, the cost of possibly their own lives, or the loss of time with their families!
What is freedom to you? Is it the fact that I was able to travel several hours to do something I wanted to? Is it the fact that my four granddaughters, four grandsons and three great grandkids, have the ability to grow up and do or be whoever they want to be? Is it the fact that my family can worship wherever and whenever we choose? What about the fact that I can sit at my kitchen table reading the Bible and leave it there, for all to see, to read later?
We also have another type of freedom, that through our Savior, Jesus Christ. The freedom from sin. Romans 6:10-11 tells us “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise, you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We have the choice to grab hold of this freedom and turn our backs to sin in our lives. God started this freedom of choice from the very beginning of time, as Genesis 2:16-17 says “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.’”
God provided the freedom. It was Eve and Adam’s free choice to not obey God’s command. We have this choice today as well to follow Satan or God.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” says the Book of Galatians. “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
That image of those Navy men and women entering the gymnasium with the beautiful flakes of snow falling will always be a memory I will cherish. Just as they were dedicating their lives in service for us so we can be free; we as Christians must dedicate our lives in service, so that we can protect this freedom we have through Christ.
Thank you to all those willing to serve our country through their and their families sacrifices. Thank you, God, for your sacrifice of your Son, who gave us the choice of freedom to serve others.
How are you showing the freedom that only Jesus can give? Are you serving others and letting others know about who you serve, our Jesus?
Serving others truly frees us to serve our Savior!
Thank you, God, for these brave men and women who are willing to put their life on the line by serving to protect us. Thank you to my daughter and four kids, and so many other families, for giving up the time with their family member, so we can all be free. Thank you to Jesus Christ who gave us freedom through His suffering on the cross!
Till next time!
Keela