Freedom is not free. It costs someone to be set free. We have a country where we can live in freedom because of the sacrifices of others. One of the reasons many British settlers came to these new lands, eventually called the United States of America, was for religious freedom. In the 1600s, there was great religious persecution in the British Empire. Many people died because of their faith; as a result, they embarked on a treacherous journey to the new lands in America. Many died during the journey, and when they arrived in America, they faced all kinds of challenges, including sickness and learning to live in a new environment. The settlers enjoyed their new freedom of religion, but the British Empire continued to suppress them until they gained their independence from the monarch of Britain, George III, on July 4, 1776.
Without the sacrifices of the British settlers, the United States of America would not have existed the way we have it now. God blessed this nation because the godly principles of this country are based on the Word of God. The founding fathers of the United States of America were men of deep religious convictions based on the Bible and the faith in Jesus Christ. Nearly half of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence had biblical training. Benjamin Franklin, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, said, "Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshipped...As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see."
We have to thank our Lord Jesus for the religious freedom that we have in this country. We have the freedom to worship God and share our faith with others. Let us not shy away from our faith but be bold, for there is only one Savior that can save us from our sins: our Lord Jesus.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully and meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you). How should I live having the freedom to worship God? Am I thankful for having religious freedom? How do I express my gratitude to God for giving me the freedom to worship Him?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I am free to worship you in this country because of the men and women who sacrificed their lives for their faith in you. I pray that I will not take the freedom you have blessed me for granted. Give me the courage and the boldness to live it out and to tell others about you. May you continue to bless the United States of America and protect our religious freedom. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.