Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

Matthew 20:28 “Even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Our nation’s founders lived lives of service and sacrifice.  They set aside the ease of a privileged life under powerful British rule because they felt the call of liberty.  They risked everything to author and sign the Declaration of Independence, and to fight for our nation’s independence and freedom.  They endured hardships to craft the U.S. Constitution and to grow a new nation. They did so out of a thirst for liberty, and their service still impacts us today.

Even more so, our Savior lived a life of service and sacrifice.  He set aside the ease of His heavenly throne because He knew that we would need liberty that only He could provide.  He endured unimaginable hardships to give His life a ransom for many.  He did so out a love for each and every one of us, and his service still impacts heaven and earth today.

In today’s culture, selfishness is elevated over service.  We laud those who accumulate and ignore those who distribute.  We idolize those who gather and dismiss those who give away.  We award those who have servants, and create punchlines about those who serve.  We celebrate those whose use of liberty is extreme and excessive, and mock those whose use of liberty is restrained and reserved.  Service is subjugated to self, even among Christians.

We would not have national liberty if our forefathers felt the same way.  We would not have spiritual liberty if our Savior felt the same way.  We cannot expect either type of liberty to characterize this land if we don’t once again elevate and celebrate service driven by a love of one another.

PLEASE PRAY FOR A NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF SERVICE ONCE AGAIN IN THIS LAND.  It should be a fundamental part of every neighborhood, every church, every community, every town, every city, every state, and throughout the nation. We should seek to serve everyone with whom we come into contact.  May Christians lead the way.  Let us never use liberty as an occasion for the flesh, but by love serve one another.