The cost of bondage vs the price of freedom

Psalm 126 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity. A Song of Ascents.

When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
² Then our mouth was filled with laughter
And our tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
³ The Lord has done great things for us;
We are glad.

⁴ Restore our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.
⁵ Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.
⁶ He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

2 Peter 2:19 says:  By what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved.  Romans 6:16 says:  Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?  We have been set free in Christ, through the cross and the resurrection. Many in the nation of Israel, became discontent with their freedom from Egypt. They longed for the comfort of the familiarity they knew in bondage to the Egyptians. Although the Egyptians were cruel taskmasters, the Israelites knew what to expect each day. We see that often those who have been incarcerated commit crimes again when they are free so that they can return to the familiarity of prison. In the same way, many today, who have been delivered from the bondage of sin, long to return to their enslavement. There is a comfort for some in remaining in sin. It is the comfort of the familiar, as opposed to the risk of change. Freedom requires faith; trusting God for our provision and our direction. Whether to be free or in bondage is a choice that we make every day, often many times a day. The world perceives obedience to God and Christ as limiting and restrictive, but in truth there is no greater freedom than trusting in God. In Deuteronomy 31:6 God says:  "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."  In John 8:34-36 Jesus says:  “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

What’s true in the spiritual realm is also true in the natural realm. Just as many in the nation of Israel longed to return to enslavement in Egypt, so too many today, in this nation, would choose to be in bondage to a political taskmaster, rather than to stand daily in freedom. They would trade the uncertainty freedom for the promise of free things. These who seek to be ruled; to be controlled have never known either the cost of bondage or the price of freedom. The price of freedom is high. It is paid with blood. Our nations freedom was purchased by the blood of those who gave their lives so that we could be free today. Our individual freedom was purchased with the blood of Christ so that we could be free forever.

How could we possibly disregard or disdain so great a price?

When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; We are glad. Restore our captivity, O Lord, As the streams in the South. Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.  Amen. Thank You for our freedom. Amen.