1 Minute Daily Devotions
July 4, 2010
Paid The Price For Our Freedom
"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1
In 1776, George Washington gathered his troops together and told them he needed someone for a highly secret mission behind enemy lines. A twenty-one-year-old soldier from Yale volunteered. It seemed he was going to be successful, but as he returned with the battle plans of the British, they were tipped off and he was arrested and sentenced to be hanged. The next morning, as he was facing execution, he uttered these poignant words: "My only regret is that I have but one life to lose for my country."
This young man, Nathan Hale, was willing to pay a price for freedom that required his life. In many ways, what he did symbolized what Christ has done for all of us. Christ paid the ultimate price for our freedom from the bondage of sin. Freedom always involves a price - what Nathan Hale did for America and, likewise, what Jesus has done for us. Our choice is to accept it on repentant faith with gratitude.
Comments on this Devotion
From CYNLAIS,GRIFFITHS. on Jul 4th:
i am a homofobe age 81.when will
you openly state gays are not of god.they are practising sub human
activity.have you forgoten sodam and germora.ghurches obay mens
law .not ashem/gods /Y;SHUA.
CYNLAISG/KOL.LIFNAY.
From Grant on Jul 4th:
I asked a friend of mine said that he had two thoughts as he exited from viewing Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ". THANK YOU and I'M SORRY.
From JCO on Jul 4th:
Why couldn't God just grant the freedom, grant the pardon? Why all this roundabout, back door stuff with Jesus? Why not just forgive us and move on? I don't see what torturing his "only son" has to do with anything. (By the way, why is an all-powerful God capable of making only ONE son anyhow? Why can't he just make another any time he pleases, or a daughter too?)
From AMB on Jul 4th:
Dear JCO,
Aaaah, the questions of those who simply don't have a personal relationship with God. God is all powerful and he has many sons and daughters, we are it. Why do you think the Lord's prayer reads, "Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name..". The first part of your question invokes the answer of "free will". So, I'll answer a question with a question. Do you want someone to do something because you told them to do it or do you want them to do it because THEY WANT to do it? Everyone will admit, it's much nicer when someone WANTS TO according to their own free will. It's taken me many years, and parenthood to boot, to understand "free will" and how only a God who loves us so would give us this. A Choice.
It's not easy to understand and I'm not trying to make light of your comments, it's just hard to answer in a short space. Happy 4th.
From Grant on Jul 4th:
Charles Stanley had a good sermon today on the consequences of the effort (largely successful) to remove God from all aspects of pubic life. We now condone things that were once commonly agreed as wrong. At my own church today our pastor had a similar message. There seems to finally be a voice rising in our country. Almost like the lyrics in that old 60's classic by Buffalo Springfield, "Something's happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear, people marching and carrying signs..."
When you examine the contributions of Christian and Jewish institutions to the quality of life in our country, the conclusion is overwhelmingly positive. Everything from the numerous universities colleges, and hospitals to the abolishment of slavery, and so much more. The "moral core" of our country matters. Nuff said. Gotta go cook some burgers.
Happy Fourth!!