Freedom is a Beautiful Thing!

Freedom.

Freedom to live.

Freedom to dream.

Freedom to worship.

Freedom to speak.

Freedom to work.

Freedom to pray.

There she stood with her torch lifted high—a symbol of liberty that has welcomed generations. A sight I have wanted to observe in person.

And she is beautiful, - don't get me wrong.

Breath-taking, really.

She stands for a land of the free! And I am thrilled to be living in the land of the free and home of the brave.

But my heart is drawn to an even greater freedom.

A freedom that no person or government can grant. A freedom that no circumstance can take away. I write of the freedom found in my Christ. John 8:36 (NKJV) reads, “Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

Jesus freed my from the list of my wrongs. He freed me from the guilt that whispers, I will never be enough. He freed me of fear that tries to keep me captive.

And standing beneath a symbol of freedom reminded me that both freedoms have come at a cost. The freedom for Americans was bought through sacrifice. And the freedom we all can have in Christ was bought through a sacrifice, too.

One points to a torch. The other points to a cross.

One points to a torch. The other points to a cross.

And because of that cross, I am free and you can be as well. My friends, freedom really is a beautiful thing for "it is of freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 (NIV)