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By Pastor Brian Bestian
Everything valuable in life usually comes with an expensive price tag—and freedom is no exception. Whether it is our freedom to choose our place of worship, freedom of speech, freedom to vote during elections, freedom to travel across borders and state lines, or the freedom to pursue the career of our choosing, our freedoms are costly. We have untold debt to our forefathers and those who fought and sacrificed for the political and social liberties we enjoy today.
Our spiritual liberty was not cheap, either. We owe our spiritual freedom to our Savior Jesus Christ, who paid for it on the Cross of Golgotha. Jesus is the only way for us to find spiritual freedom from the enslavement to sin. To know Christ is to know true freedom. Jesus Himself said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
God’s sacrifice for us was not measured by financial expense or political cost. When Jesus came to earth, He sacrificed the glory and splendor of heaven to live and walk among us. He endured more physical and emotional pain in His final days than we can ever imagine. He experienced the spiritual pain and punishment of being separated from His Father while He hung on the cross. He paid for our sins with His own blood.
While we should always be grateful to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for the political and social freedoms we experience today, our overwhelming thanks should be directed to God for the greatest sacrifice of all—His only Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Whatever blessings of political freedom we experience in this world cannot be compared to the freedom that Jesus gives us. The daily liberties we treasure on this earth are fleeting, but our spiritual freedom will last … for eternity.
By the way, did you know that the Fourth of July falls on a Sunday this year? We have special Independence Day services planned at our usual worship times (8:00 and 10:45). Our Board of Outreach is advertising our special services on several local radio stations (600KCOL, Big Country 97.9, KIIX) during the previous week. Tune in and come celebrate with us! Don’t forget to invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family members, too. Come celebrate all the freedoms that God has blessed us with … especially our greatest freedom—FREEDOM IN CHRIST!
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