“Freedom isn’t free” is a quote that many of us have heard, but have we actually stopped to consider what it really means to be free?

FREE= not under the control or in the power of another.

FREEDOM= the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

Freedom and being free has come at a great price, and we are grateful to the men and women who sacrificed their own lives to afford us this privilege.

But there is yet another even greater sacrifice that I would like to talk about. The sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

MATTHEW 20:28 AMP

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [paying the price to set them free from the penalty of sin].”

JOHN 15:13 EXPANDED BIBLE

The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends [No one has greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends; Jesus’ death is the ultimate expression of this principle].

So how do we value this freedom that the Lord sacrificed for?

●     Do we serve Him when it’s convenient?

●     Do we serve Him halfheartedly?

●     Do we serve Him at all?

GALATIANS 5:1 GW

Christ has freed us so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom. Therefore, be firm in this freedom and don’t become slaves again.

●     After many years of serving the Lord you can become stale and lax in your walk with God.

●     Little by little you begin to step back into old ways and old habits.

EPHESIANS 2:3 NIV

Actually, that’s how all of us used to behave, conditioned by physical desires. We used to do what our flesh and our minds were urging us to do. What was the result?  We too were subject to wrath in our natural state, just like everyone else.

●     Let’s continually do a self-check to make sure that we are doing everything to stay the course!

We can look around and see what this world is coming to, so let’s not lose heart now!

JAMES 1:2-8 PHILLIPS

When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends!  Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character with the right sort of independence. And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God—who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty—and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him.  But he must ask in sincere faith without secret doubts as to whether he really wants God’s help or not.  The man who trusts God, but with inward reservations, is like a wave of the sea, carried forward by the wind one moment and driven back the next.  That sort of man cannot hope to receive anything from God, and the life of a man of divided loyalty will reveal instability at every turn.

Yeah there are tests and trials but they really do only make us stronger when we stay focused on Jesus.

EPHESIANS 6:13 NET

For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.

JOHN 8:36 NLT

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

So let us remember as we Celebrate our Freedom, let’s respect the great price that was paid for it!