Thank You For Your Sacrifice

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

(Hebrews 11:32-40)

Thought For Today:  

November 9th is World Freedom Day, and we honor those who have served our country so that we may enjoy the freedom that we now have.   Some people think that freedom is free.  But freedom is not free.  It always costs someone their life.  This Nation, America, and the freedom we enjoy are due to men and women who were willing to sacrifice their lives so that those who would come behind them could enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  From the Revolutionary War to the current battles of today, men and women have served and are serving this great nation to maintain her freedom.  

The writer of Hebrews also tells us that time would fail him if he were to list all the people who sacrificed their lives so that we could enjoy the religious freedom we now enjoy.  I wonder how big of a book he would have to write.  

Freedom requires boots on the ground.  Even God put boots on the ground to give us liberty.  "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Galatians 4:4-5).  You see, those who don't understand the cost of freedom are those who sacrifice nothing for freedom.