“What does Memorial Day represent for you?” When this question is asked of veterans Christians and non…this is the answer most often given the actual words of Jesus: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) This is also reiterated by John in his first letter where we see Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for His own stated clearly defining for us the greatest love, “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” I John 3:16
Today, we remember the sacrifices of countless men and women since the founding of our nation who have paid the ultimate price…their lives… for us and the principles that this nation was founded on. Most were frightened…not wanting to die …but there was something bigger than them in play…their duty…to their fellow soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors, reservists and guardsmen…but also to the freedoms we all share. We can only thank these men and women by honoring their memory by not forgetting their sacrifice and being the best that we can be as a witness of their being the best of us.
Today, take the time to bow before the face of our God and give thanks for the fallen.
Let us never forget their sacrifice…
let us always honor their commitment unto of death…
let us always stand for them when the anthem is played…
…and let us pray for the Gold Star families for their sacrifice for us.
John Quincy Adams exhorted a nation: “You will never know how much it cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you make good use of it.”
And also, let us remember to pray for those who still serve in harm’s way.
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
