NO GREATER LOVE!

Today is Memorial Day and I had not planned to write about this day. In fact, I had actually forgotten that today was Memorial Day. Saturday when I was sitting on my back porch watching the world wake up, listening to the birds and enjoying a cup of coffee, God reminded me that Monday would be a special day.

While sitting there thinking about what a beautiful day it was and how good God is to us, I was reminded of His sacrifice and how Jesus stepped down from Heaven and became human, all for loves’ sake. We will never understand (this side of eternity) why God loved us so much that he would sacrifice His only begotten Son. He loved us so much that He was willing to give up everything to die for us. I just don’t understand that.

There are many, well actually, a lot more than many, in this country today that can’t understand why so many people throughout our country’s history willingly gave their lives in order that we might enjoy the freedoms that we are privileged to have today. Yet, it seems like the sacrifices that so many have made are not appreciated.

It seems that Memorial Day, instead of being celebrated as a day of remembrance; we anxiously look forward to it as the first day of summer fun. Leading up to this day I saw polls on television asking people how they planned to spend the day celebrating. The leading answer was firing up the barbeque grill for the first of many summer meals, going camping at the lake, fishing and swimming. Just take a drive around your neighborhood and count the American flags that you see lining driveways or hanging from houses.

Jesus said “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (NIV). This country is what it is today because of the ultimate price that so many freely paid. As you go about enjoying your holiday today, don’t forget the sacrifice (first and foremost) that Jesus paid to redeem you and reconcile you with God the Father and then take time to really think about the ultimate sacrifice that so many of our soldiers have paid for your freedom. Remember, this holiday was not created for you to celebrate the first day of summer fun or even the first of many summer barbecue meals, but it is a day for you to enjoy with your family the outcome of the past 234 years of freedom that this country has enjoyed.......because of a soldier.

Dear Father,
Thank you Lord for allowing us the privilege of living in this great country! Thank you so much Father for the soldiers throughout our history that have fought and died for us and the freedoms that we have because of them. My prayer today is with each soldier that is in harms way and those that are away from their families. I thank You for the sacrifices that they make daily for me. Thank you God for your Son Jesus Christ who so willingly left his home in Heaven to step down into this world of darkness to bear my sins that nailed Him to the cross so that I might enjoy the ultimate freedom which is forgiveness of my sins and an eternity spent with You! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.