Volume 44   Number 6                                                                                     February 2002

Men have given their lives in the battlefield for the freedom we have here in this country today. The rights we enjoy here in the “Land of the Free” have been purchased at a high cost!

One man died so we could break the chains of Satan. “For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28.) Spiritual freedom cost Jesus his life!

If you profess to be a Christ-like person, it is going to cost you some things that you might want to do. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what it that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2.)

You don’t want to be a slave to Satan or the world. It may cost you as a Christian these things and more; different employment, a change in hours at work, different friends, different habits, different clothes, and having a different opinion from outsiders.

One reason these differences come about is because a Christian must be humble:

• As a child: “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew18:4.)
  
• Be clothed in humility: “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5.)
  

Serving the Lord with all humility: “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:” (Acts 20:19.) Paul left a secure job with some of the highest ranking people and became a Christian and an enemy of the high priests. Also, the brethren were slow to receive him as one of them. But in the long run when all was said and done, he proved that it was worth having Christ on his side. What Paul gave up for freedom was more than worth the effort!

Sometimes people are afraid to stand up for Christ and try to see how far they can go looking and acting like the outside world and try to justify themselves by God’s Word. King Saul tried this in I Samuel 15. It didn’t please God then, and it won’t please Him on the Judgment Day, either. God wants complete obedience: no bargaining!

How much is spiritual freedom worth to you? The price for freedom is nothing compared to how precious freedom is to all of us The cost you pay for freedom may be your own life, but it is a small price to pay to prove our love for God!