Remember

 ~ Freedom Is NOT Free ~

 

~ Historical ~

 

President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a public holiday, Armistice Day, to honor those who died in the terrible conflict we refer to as World War I. He declared this annual remembrance on November 11, 1919 – one year after the end of that brutal war!  It was so horrific it is also known as “The Great War.”

 

President Wilson’s intent was that the nation would be filled with pride for the heroism of all those who died in service to their country. He intended that Americans would be grateful for the victory. These are his words: “The reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory,”

 

In 1954 the name was changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, to make the day more inclusive honoring all servicemen and women, both past and present.

 

~ Relevance ~

 

May you this Veterans Day pause and give thanks to the veterans in your life and those from generations past. Offer gratitude to God for the ones who fought to secure the rights and freedoms we hold dear.

 

~ Scripture ~

 

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:12-13).

 

Jesus said, “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:15-18a).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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True Independence

~ The Universal Desire For Freedom ~

Universal Desire  ~  Almost from the time of birth humans seek independence to “do their own thing.”  No one sets out to teach a baby to be self-centered and acting as if they are completely in control of the situation.  (Clear evidence that all mankind is born in sin as the Bible teaches—but that is another topic.)  Certainly this trend is also evidenced abundantly in adolescent and teenage years.  But it is not only true of individuals but also social groups and nations.  Today the U.S.A. celebrates it’s “Independence Day.”  But where is true freedom and independence found? 

The Solution  ~  True freedom is only found at the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ.  “Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:34-36).  This is the only source of true freedom. 

The Scriptures (a sample)  ~  A prophecy about the coming Messiah—Jesus Christ.  “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1). 

The New Covenant (two samples)  ~  “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32).

“Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39 esv). 

Summary  ~  The worst kind of slavery is slavery to our passions and lusts (sin).  One of the reasons it is so cruel is that the slave often does not realize the degree to which he is bound beyond his strongest imagination.  But once true freedom is gained (through Christ) we are admonished: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

True Freedom

~ The Greatest of All Freedoms ~

Consider  ~  (1) The combination of freedom and character is powerful!  Freedom gives you the opportunity to make decisions.  Character is the choosing to make right decisions.  (2) Freedom from controlling sin in your life is the greatest of all freedoms. 

An Old Protestant Hymn: 

            Know this, that every soul is free

                        To choose his life and what he’ll be;

            For this eternal truth is given

                        That God will force no man to heaven.

           

            He’ll call, persuade, direct aright,

                        And bless with wisdom, love, and light,

            In nameless ways be good and kind,

                        But never force the human mind. 

Choose  ~  “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15).  “Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death”’” (Jeremiah 21:8).  Jesus Christ said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .