Liberty

There she is, an allegorical symbol of liberty, on the obverse side “In Got we trust.” In God’s word, we find much more liberty designed specifically for our lives. Pastor preached on that Sunday, using a number of Bible verses that teach us just how important our liberty is – and it’s source.

It has nothing to do with statues in harbors or allegories on coins. In fact, a Christian’s liberty is seen by non-believers as bondage, a series of restrictions, of ‘thou shalt nots.’ The first, and most important of the Ten Commandments was put into a positive by Christ:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:37-39 KJV)

Follow that and we won’t break that first commandment of not having gods before Him.  But, we have problems with that one, don’t we? We need to count our blessings, as David put it?

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: (Psalms 103:2 KJV)

Those benefits include liberty.  Take a look at Jesus’ job description:

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; (Isaiah 61:1-2 KJV)

How do we know that’s His job?  He said so:

And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. (Luke 4:21 KJV)

That fulfillment included liberty:

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV)

With liberty comes responsibility, and a desire to protect that liberty for others:

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Galatians 5:13-14 KJV)

But, first of all, we must recognize our bondage.  Some of hose who believed in Jesus did not:

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? (John 8:31-33 KJV)

Jesus had an answer for them and for us:

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (John 8:34 KJV)

If you have the liberty, thank God for it. If you don’t, ask God for it.