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THE GIFT OF FREEDOM

It is for 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

On top of the Capitol dome in Washington, D.C., is a 20-foot statue of the ‘Freedom Lady’. Her face is framed in a crest of stars and she’s holding a shield of stars and stripes in her hand. She was shipped from Rome and during a fierce storm the captain ordered some cargo to be thrown overboard. The sailors wanted to ditch the ‘Freedom Lady’, but the captain refused, shouting above the wind, ‘Never! We’ll flounder before we throw freedom away!’ Ben Franklin said, ‘Those who give up liberty for safety deserve neither liberty nor safety!’ A wise man once said, ‘If we value anything more than freedom, we’ll lose our freedom. And if we value comfort or money more, we’ll lose those too.’ In 1945 Martin Niemoeller said, ‘When the Nazis came for the Communists I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist. When they came for the Jews I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew. When they came for the Trade Unionists I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Trade Unionist. When they came for the Catholics I didn’t speak up, because I was a Protestant. When they came for me, there was no longer anyone who could protest.’ We must guard against apathy, and never forget that much of the world doesn’t enjoy the political and religious freedoms we take for granted. Remember, ‘Christ has set us free - So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness on you.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank you for the freedom you have given me – not freedom to do what I want but freedom to serve you by serving those around me in need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen