Thoughts on Veteran's Day

Although I have never served in the military, I have great respect and gratitude for those who have served in the past or are presently serving in the military. On this Veteran’s Day, I wanted to extend a special thanks to those who have served (or are still serving) to help protect the freedoms that we enjoy in this country. If you are reading this article and you are a military veteran or are presently serving in the military, then I want to say … “Thank You!!”

The freedom of speech, press, assembly and religion are four freedoms that I especially cherish. I am grateful to live in a country in which I can assemble with other believers, speak publicly regarding my faith, and publish through the written word a description of my faith in Jesus Christ. It is important to be reminded that there are many people throughout the world and throughout history who have not experienced these freedoms that we can so easily take for granted.

And yet as you and I reflect on these freedoms we experience in this country, we are challenged to ask ourselves the following question: How are you and I responding to our freedom? Do we view freedom as something entitled to us or do we view it as a gift to be cherished and protected? Do we view freedom as something to utilize for personal gain or for the collective good of others?

In the Bible we find the following teaching regarding a proper response to freedom:
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? Galatians 5:13-15 MSG

Are you utilizing your freedom to explore God’s purpose for your life to serve Him and to serve others? Let’s take the above passage of Scripture to heart and continue to look for ways to utilize our freedom to serve others in love!