- Joined
- Feb 9, 2004
- Messages
- 17,081
God's Gift of Freedom - July 03, 2007
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. - Galatians 5:1-3 ?Thomas Jefferson once said that the God who gave us life also gave us liberty. God wants us to be free. We celebrate this month the Declaration of Independence, which reminds us that we were created with rights including liberty.
Above all else, I love America because it's the land of the free. I'm excited about the revival of patriotism and the love of freedom we're seeing in America today. I love to see people celebrate the blessings of liberty and honor the sacrifices of those who have purchased our freedom. For all too long, we tended to take our freedom for granted.
As a young man, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech in which he warned his audience of the danger of forgetting the price of freedom. He pointed out that freedom was treasured shortly after the American Revolution but that an appreciation of freedom and democracy waned with the passing of years and generations.
When Lincoln delivered that speech, the Revolutionary War had ended about 60 years earlier - a period of time equal to our distance from World War II. I served in the military during World War II and still vividly recall our nation's excitement at helping our European allies preserve our freedoms. We were proud to be victorious leaders of the free world.
Such patriotic fervor cannot last forever. But we cannot forget the sacrifices of that war or that our freedoms must be won and sometimes won at a precious price. We continue to defend our freedoms today against terrorists bent on destroying our way of life.
All people are created in God's image and should be free to make decisions and follow their dreams. Along with political freedom, I thank God for the blessing of the free enterprise system we enjoy in this country. Free enterprise has enabled me to build a successful business and provided a living for millions. I'm also thankful for freewill - that I have the ability and opportunity to make decisions that I believe best serve my life and God's plan for my life.
Above all, I'm thankful that through Jesus Christ I have been set free from sin simply by asking forgiveness and professing my faith in Christ as my savior.
The fact that God gave us the gift of freedom is one more assurance of his love for us. Let's give thanks and never take our freedoms for granted.
Rich DeVos is the former chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. - Galatians 5:1-3 ?Thomas Jefferson once said that the God who gave us life also gave us liberty. God wants us to be free. We celebrate this month the Declaration of Independence, which reminds us that we were created with rights including liberty.
Above all else, I love America because it's the land of the free. I'm excited about the revival of patriotism and the love of freedom we're seeing in America today. I love to see people celebrate the blessings of liberty and honor the sacrifices of those who have purchased our freedom. For all too long, we tended to take our freedom for granted.
As a young man, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech in which he warned his audience of the danger of forgetting the price of freedom. He pointed out that freedom was treasured shortly after the American Revolution but that an appreciation of freedom and democracy waned with the passing of years and generations.
When Lincoln delivered that speech, the Revolutionary War had ended about 60 years earlier - a period of time equal to our distance from World War II. I served in the military during World War II and still vividly recall our nation's excitement at helping our European allies preserve our freedoms. We were proud to be victorious leaders of the free world.
Such patriotic fervor cannot last forever. But we cannot forget the sacrifices of that war or that our freedoms must be won and sometimes won at a precious price. We continue to defend our freedoms today against terrorists bent on destroying our way of life.
All people are created in God's image and should be free to make decisions and follow their dreams. Along with political freedom, I thank God for the blessing of the free enterprise system we enjoy in this country. Free enterprise has enabled me to build a successful business and provided a living for millions. I'm also thankful for freewill - that I have the ability and opportunity to make decisions that I believe best serve my life and God's plan for my life.
Above all, I'm thankful that through Jesus Christ I have been set free from sin simply by asking forgiveness and professing my faith in Christ as my savior.
The fact that God gave us the gift of freedom is one more assurance of his love for us. Let's give thanks and never take our freedoms for granted.
Rich DeVos is the former chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.
