by Chris Steele

July 1, 2007

As we think about our country’s early years, we know that we have not come by this way without great sacrifice on the part of many. Fearless people from all walks of life have forged through the enormous process of forming a new government; basically an experiment in government. Our forefathers constructed our great constitution and Bill of Rights as a safeguard to liberty. These laws protect our freedoms.

Unfortunately, there are some in every generation that either do not know or have forgotten that freedom comes with a great price. When our forefathers came to this land, it was not a free-for-all. Just because liberty was in the air, it did not give license to people to do whatever they wanted to do. Citizens of this new country banded together and in the democratic process, chose leaders from among themselves and established rules and regulations that would govern everyone.

From time to time it was necessary to enforce those new laws. Everyone who would be a part of this new republic was obligated to abide by all the laws of the land. Therefore, freedom requires responsibility and restraint from each citizen. For the country to survive (and thrive), the individual must agree to surrender certain things. They obligate themselves to abide by the rules in order to be a citizen of this nation.

Spiritual freedom works in much the same way. Paul said, “he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant” (1 Corinthians 7:22). He continued to say, “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God” (23, 24).

The price of freedom in Christ involves the personal sacrifice of our own will. When we become a Christian and member of the Lord’s body, we are no longer our own. We submit to Christ as voluntary servants (Romans 6:16-8). We belong to Christ. This requires strict obedience to the will of God through Christ. When we deny ourselves, losing our life for Christ’s sake, our Savior has promised that we will find it in him (Matthew 16:24-26).