Greater Love

John 15:13 (ESV)

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

What an honor to be able to freely write to you on this Memorial Day. A day that should be somber and revered, yet in most cases, it’s simply treated as a holiday with flag waving and backyard BBQ’s. A Monday no less, a day when banks and government businesses are closed and many get a day off from work. Do we stop for even a few minutes to honor those who bravely fought and died so that we can wave our flags and burn our burgers without fear? Sadly, many only regard it as another holiday.

The verse above, John 15:13, tells us that the greatest love that can be shown is when someone lays down their life for another. How sad that so many in American history have done exactly this, laid down their life for their fellow man, gave their ALL so that we could have it all. Twice I have traveled to our nation’s capital and twice I have walked through Arlington National Cemetery. Seeing all of those white markers laid out in such precision, thousands upon thousands of stones, designating the life of someone who gave it ALL for you and me, for this country and its citizens. It brings so much sadness and respect in a single humbling breath. You can hardly stand and look upon the sea of white without tears of thanksgiving freely flowing down your face.

Just think, we as members of God’s church, received that same kind of gift that all of those fallen soldiers gave to this country. The gift of Freedom! Jesus Christ laid down his own life that we might be free; free from the sins of this world, free to worship God the Father without fear, free to embrace the life He gave us. And we, his Church, knowing that He is in complete control, has already won the battle. As a nation, we have fallen out of love with each other. We have fallen out of love with our country. We have fallen out of love for the church. We have forgotten! 2Chronicles 7:14 says, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.”

So, on this solemn day, I ask that you lift a prayer of thanks for all of the brave men and women who laid down their life for you and me so that we can live free and worship freely our God in Heaven. Pray for the men and women who are putting themselves on the frontlines to guard and protect our communities, our states, and our nation. Pray Second Chronicles 7:14. May we never forget!