How heavy is the price 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)

For many the price of freedom is heavy or unimaginable.  We here in the U.S. enjoy a freedom that just does not compare to other parts of the world.   So many of us truly do not understand the blessing and reality of our freedoms, though thankfully many still do.  We live in a country that was founded "under God" and yet we are so protective of our freedom that we constantly turn our backs on the one who has set us free.

Before you click away because you sense I am being too judgmental and pointing fingers please hear me out.  I too have turned away at times and am often at odds with the church.  I have always had many struggles with the church at times due to many events from childhood.  As an adult, I know now why I feel like I do at times.  I also know that a lot of what I struggle with is the standards by which many Christians put upon each other.  In other words what I struggle with is not of God, but humans.

It is heartbreaking to me that so many will not even recognize Christ because they only associate him with laws and  regulations.  It is very hard to explain this to some, whom like me have been attacked as not being a Christian or not being Christian enough in their behavior.  I absolutely boil every time I hear someone say, "Well, are they a Christian?"  I get very annoyed, because usually this means there is something that perhaps they are seeing or hearing from another that does not meet the standards by which they have adopted.  In my opinion a true Christian knows you can never know if another is truly a believer any more then you can know of the struggles in their hearts.  I know many Christians who at times do not act very Christ like, though I do not question their faith.  I do not carry that yoke.  That's not to say that there are not times when sometimes you really have to wonder about another.  But for me, it is not something I worry about because it is such a freedom to know that God has his eye on us all.

Since the children [are human], He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy Him who holds the power of death-- that is, the devil -- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
(Hebrews 2:14-15)

I often wonder if there are times when his eyes may be filled with tears though.  Tears, because he gave his only son to free us all and yet many still will not believe, and we wonder why? Tears because we often burden each other with heavy standards that we create.  Tears because instead of protecting the freedom and teachings we have received from Christ himself by loving others, we choose to handle it our own way.  We either create to many laws and standards that others simply cannot meet or we seem to think that by eliminating God from the picture all together, somehow there will be peace and freedom among men.  

It is not hard to see that the sins of this world are still so many!  But, we have an adversary! We have a rescuer and a redeemer in Christ.  He is still and always will be our Savior, and He was given for you, because he loves you that much to set you free!

I am posting this early today because I am about to begin a very busy holiday weekend.  I have not posted a "Sharing Jesus Sunday" with you in a while and really wanted to share this one with you.   I have had this heavy on my heart for some time and felt this was a great time to share it with you.

May God Bless You All and

God Bless America!

Mary