It Was For Freedom…

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NASB

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither knows victory nor defeat.” Teddy Roosevelt

Life-giving words. By a founder of Christianity and the other, one of our famous presidents. The founders of our country, though flawed, believed in freedom and individual rights to the point of death. Jesus suffered and died for freedom from “slavery to sin.”  The Bible says, “There is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood.

Remember the phrase “Give me liberty or give me death?” True now and true then and the price is always blood.  “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.… “(1 Peter 1:18)

Our founders, forefathers, ancestors and family members also shed blood. It was precious, but it was not without blemishes or spots. The founders pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. May God help us to do this in our churches, school boards, communities, and homes.

Musings

Without our Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit, we will never make effectual, positive, freedom-loving, life-giving changes. History proves this over and over. And it’s an inside job first. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it, personally, culturally and nationally.  So, let’s remember the blood that was spilled by others and our Lord on Independence Day.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you for this country, purchased with the blood of Your Son and our brave military. Help us to appreciate our freedoms without fear. Help us today and every day to celebrate freedom because “It was for freedom that Christ set us free.”

Let us not go back into slavery.

Amen.