The Blessings of Liberty
By Glenn Mollette
We read and hear a lot about liberty.
Liberty has a nice ring to it. I’ve always wanted to see the Liberty bell and maybe someday I will.
I’ve been blessed to grow up in a country where I’ve had the freedom to make a lot of choices. As a kid I chose to spend countless hours playing basketball, strumming a guitar and enjoying life as a child. When I was fifteen I chose to pray to receive Christ and felt great about that decision. It wasn’t long until I felt called to serve Christ in any way that He might use me. I freely responded with an affirmative to do whatever He might lead me to do.
Most of my life I have served churches as a pastor except for a couple of brief associate roles. I served joyfully and freely, delighted that I might serve God and others.
Isn’t it wonderful to be free?
Of my own free will I’ve made thousands of choices and reaped the benefits or consequences of every choice.
I realize that this wonderful freedom has not come without great price. Thousands of men and women have died for the liberty that I enjoy. A neighbor friend was killed his last week in Vietnam. I’ll never forget the funeral. We stood there with tears blinding our eyes as the flag that draped his casket was presented to his father.
His death and thousands more like him make it possible for me to preach the Bible without the threat of government intervention. It’s called the separation of church and state. However, there are so many more freedoms that we have enjoyed throughout our history. Let’s never give them up.
I further know that the freedom I enjoy as a child of God has come at great price. Forgiveness of my sins, eternal life, the peace that passes understanding, abundant life…and the list goes on. Jesus paid the ultimate price for my spiritual blessings. He died on the cross for me. He arose from the grave, but before there was resurrection there was crucifixion. Our liberty, grace and blessings have come at great cost. Eph 1:7 (NIV) says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” All praise goes to our Savior, Jesus.
Today, as we make our choices freely remember all who have given so much.
John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
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