Images taken from google images.
So this weekend was Memorial Day weekend (that’s the reason this blog is so late!). Memorial Day is a day to honor the fallen heroes that fought and died for the freedoms we have in this country. So many brave men and women joined the military knowing they might not come back. They went to war knowing they may never see their loved ones again. Their sacrifices are why I am able to write this blog without fear. Freedom is not free. The freedoms we enjoy here in the United States were bought with the blood of men and women who died fighting for you. Jesus did the same thing for everyone in the world.
Jesus bought our freedom with his own blood when we deserved nothing but death. Because of our sin, we shouldn’t be able to live with God forever or enjoy the everlasting peace and love that He provides. “For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23. Because we turned away from God, we should be dying a physical and spiritual death.
Lucky for us, God loves us an exceptional amount! He loves us so much that He sent His son to die for us, to shed his blood, so that we could be free from our sins. Freedom is not free. Jesus had to die so that we could live with Him again in Heaven. Our freedom from sin was bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, who went through everything we go through, the trials and temptations, yet lived a perfect life.
Now, I want to take a minute to talk about what is free. God’s unconditional love is free. He loves us no matter what we do and we can’t do anything to make Him love us more or less. He already loves us perfectly! Loving others is free. God tells us that the greatest commandant is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, but the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. We live in a world where there is so much hatred. Often times it seems that loving others, especially people you don’t like or complete strangers, is an insurmountable task that will cost us so much. It doesn’t cost a thing to say a kind word to someone you’re passing on the street, or offer a smile to everyone you meet throughout your day.
We take advantage of the things in our lives that appear to be free but really aren’t. How many times have you used your freedom of speech to hurt others? Probably far too many to count. And yet we don’t even think twice about it. So many men and women died to give us that right, so shouldn’t we use it for good? The same thing goes for Jesus’s sacrifice. Yes, Jesus died for our sins and because of that we are forgiven. But that doesn’t mean we can still live in sin. We take advantage of Jesus’s sacrifice choosing to continue to live in sin instead of giving our hearts truly to God and allowing Him to change our hearts so that we no longer want to live in sin.
My challenge to you this week is to start taking advantage of the things that are free in our lives. Take advantage of the freedom you have to smile as much as you want and to love on people. People have died to give you that freedom.
Jesus died to give us freedom from our sins. So many brave men and women have died to give us the freedoms we enjoy in this country. Let’s honor those sacrifices by loving others.
I’m just the daughter of a small town girl… living in a world where freedom isn’t free.
Update: My mom’s first surgery on her wrist went well. It’s in a cast right now. She had shoulder surgery today which also went well and she says she’s feeling okay. At this point in time we are expecting that she will be out for another four to six weeks. She appreciates all your thoughts, support, and prayers.
Just a Small Town Girl dot dot dot 