Cherishing Freedom

This week we celebrate Veteran’s Day. It is a day that we in the United States honor those who have served or are serving in the US Armed Forces. It is not a day of remembrance like Memorial Day but a day of celebration of these men and women and the sacrifice they and their families made and are making to secure the freedoms that we enjoy in the United States of America. I was raised in the military – my Dad served in the Air Force. I know that the sacrifice is real and is not only on the part of the person serving but their family, as well. We have the advantage of enjoying those freedoms cherish because of their sacrifice.

But there is another Freedom that we enjoy as Christians. And that, in my heart and mind, is so much more important than the freedoms we hold dear in our country. The Freedom that we experience through the Blood of Jesus is for eternity. Our national freedoms are earthly and, given the right circumstances, could be taken away. But the Blood of Jesus purchased our eternal Freedom – if we believe that He is our Savior. 

There are so many statements made by Jesus that are life-changing and inspiring. But I believe one of the most inspiring is John 8:36. The Passion Translation is a bit more descriptive than our ESV translation that is on our POW for the week. The TPT says: So if the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free!

As disciples of Jesus, we all believe that He is the Savior of the world. But sometimes we have a hard time believing that the Freedom He bought for us on the Cross is for everyone else. We have trouble living into the Grace that is for everyone, including us.

That Freedom that we cherish is for eternity. It isn’t just for the moment we first believed or the moment when the Holy Spirit touched us in a powerful way. It is for FOREVER. Jesus isn’t messing around with sin or with Grace. His Blood covers all of our sins – even the ones we may thing are unforgiveable. That is cause for great celebration.

It is also cause for spreading the Word. The Gospel message needs to be proclaimed to everyone. Some need to hear it again as if for the first time. Others need to be reassured that, yes, it still holds true for them. Still others need to know that no matter what they have done or said, Jesus loves them, forgives them, and grants them the same Freedom as everyone else. 

So this week, and always, let us celebrate those brave men and women who fought and still fight to secure our freedoms in this United States of America.

More importantly, though, let us celebrate and remember the Freedom that we have because the Son of God sets us free from the power of sin and darkness. And let us be beacons of light, spreading that good news of the Gospel all around. Relish in the Freedom that is ours as Christians and shine the light of the Gospel in and through our lives. 

How will you share the Freedom of Jesus with those in your circle and beyond?

Blessings, 😊 Ceri