Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Summary: Today’s meditation is dedicated to the brave men and women who have made this country possible by sacrificing their lives.
Memorial Day is all about remembering. But what are we supposed to remember?
The U.S. Army Center of Military History website* traces Memorial Day back to the end of the Civil War. At first, it was set aside as a day to decorate the graves of loved ones fallen in the service of the country. In May of 1866, the first formal Memorial Day celebration was held in Waterloo, New York.
The people honored by this day are military personnel who lost their lives in the service of their country. This is a worthy holiday for many reasons. The men and women being honored placed the value of our freedom and our country above the value of life itself. As Jesus teaches us, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).
While those who have served and died are worthy of honor, there is one who died before them who is worthy of greater honor.
All the wars and conflicts in this world are descended from a greater war. This war began at the beginning of time when God’s enemy, “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan,” (Revelation 12:9) was tempting God’s first children, Adam and Eve. God’s Word outlines the scope of this war in Genesis 3:15 —
“And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
The battle has raged over the millennia, but the blow that crushed the head of the serpent occurred two thousand years ago when Jesus willingly allowed the enemy to capture, torture and humiliate, and crucify him. Jesus went behind enemy lines and returned from the dead, victorious. It is Christ’s victory that removes the “sting of death” (1 Cor 15: 56-57) and gives us hope of seeing our loved ones again.
Application: The cost of freedom is measured in lives lost.
Food for Thought: Not everyone who serves and dies knows Jesus. How does knowing Jesus make a difference for those who believe?
* https://history.army.mil/html/reference/holidays/memday/index.html
We honor everyone who has served and died, but only those who know Jesus access eternal life (John 14: 6; 1 John 5: 11 – 12). Knowing Jesus also impacts everything we do and informs every value – it impacts why we do what we do in this life (Philippians 3: 7 – 11).
Thank you, Rich!
Paul’s words are dramatic!
“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” (Philippians 3:8)
The power that flows through our relationship with Jesus is life changing!
There are many ways to serve, military service is one of them. In all types of service, it requires one to forego self and give to others. I think it is important to look at the impact of service. Personal sacrifice has impactful meaning for others, but service done for and in Christ has eternal signifgance for both the giver and the receiver. People.come.to know Christ, their lives redeemed by His sacrifice. Service first to Christ builds up His body, and in that body we share in the love of Christ. Life is more abundant and death loses its sting.
John 12:25-26 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Chris,
Thank you for broadening the scope of service! In truth, anyone who has served others is worthy of being remembered.
Jesus not only modeled self-sacrifice, but he empowers us to do the same.
My mind goes in a direction as chris with service and those whom served not only in the military but in this battlefield of the world. I’m reminded of those whom have been spirituality attacked, wounded, and are disabled in different ways. I’m reminded of great warriors like pastor Nathan. Or ones that have gone to be with our Lord like Dale Dutter. Memorial day is a day for me to remember to pray for those brave ones and their families.