Freedom is Never Free

Happy 4th of July – this is one of my favorite holidays and maybe yours as well. What is not to love about family cookouts, lawn games, parades, and celebrating our nation's freedom

However, I am always reminded around Independence Day that freedom is never free. It always comes at a price. Our freedoms today came as a result of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. They sacrificed and maybe paid the ultimate price of giving their lives to secure our freedoms. But also, we have the military, law enforcement, and others that allow us to continue to be free today. 

Likewise, we get to celebrate the forgiveness and freedom that we have in Jesus Christ.  Jesus announced at the start of His ministry that He came to “proclaim good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18). He personally died on the cross for your sins and mine. He suffered what should have been our pain and absorbed the wrath of God on our behalf. Because of this, we have been set free. Jesus is our propitiation, He gives us His righteousness. What an unfair exchange, but He did it anyway because of His great love. Once again freedom wasn’t free – Jesus had to pay for it.  

Sadly this isn’t true of everyone. They don’t know about the freedom found in a relationship with Jesus. We need to get together often and celebrate….gather with family and friends and let them know of our freedom in Jesus. Each day in your daily devotions ask God to give you one person to share this good news with. Just yesterday, I had someone else ask me why the world is so messed up. We can’t turn on the news without seeing a story of crime, shooting, or war. Enough is enough – Jesus came to bring good news to the poor, bring freedom and sight to the blind, and set the captives free. Let's do our part and share this story whenever we can.

Please pray for our college students as they are on summer break. Ask God to give them rest, strength, and encouragement in their faith. Thanks for your faithfulness in praying and supporting the ongoing ministry on the local college campus.

Blessings, Brady