Memorial Day Devotion 5.25.26

John 15

"12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

Today, we honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The United States is sitting on the eve of its 250th year since it declared independence from Britain in 1776. (The official title of the anniversary is a found here in this search on Google.) I remember the Bicentennial Celebration well in 1976. I was in Minnesota on the occasion of my grandfather's passing that summer, so I was in the heartland to watch the festivities: the parades, the reenactments in Boston Harbor, the tall ship parade in New York around the Statue of Liberty, and all the items commemorating the celebration.

250 years of freedom unimagined before the country was founded. It is remarkable that it has lasted this long. Historically, democracies (yes, I know we are a republic with democratic principles) don't last this long. I heard former-President Clinton noting that this is the longest run of the experiment in which people have the power to shape government known in the history of mankind.

We celebrate these truths, as Jefferson noted. The notion that all men are created equal and endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights. That among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness which are fundamental to our way of life. These truths are tested in every generation, and we are always "one generation away" from losing them.

Why start a devotion talking about the 250th anniversary of our independence? Because it parallels with a greater truth. The truth that only in Christ are we truly free. Regardless of government, men and women have risked it all to speak the truth of Christ throughout the history of the world. Many have perished in his Name from the time men began to rule other men until today. 

We link our freedom preserved by battles our military in the United States fight to enforce our policies abroad and near. "Our men and women have not died in vain," we say each Memorial Day, as we seek to preserve the freedoms we enjoy and to broaden these freedoms to those who do not know them. "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" combines these two truths in one of its stanzas:

"In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:

As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,

While God is marching on."

The simple truth in this passage of this hymn is that Christ died for us to present us, those who believe in him, to the Father clothed in his righteousness. He died to "make us holy." Today, we observe and thank those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our nation by giving their lives to maintain the freedoms we enjoy, chiefly the right to gather in his Name and free to worship God in the faith of our choosing..

Let us remember though, our calling is a heavenly call, the upward call of Christ Jesus: "14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus," writes Paul in Philippians 3.

Today, we give thanks to the men and women who paid the ultimate price, giving their lives to preserve the freedoms of our nation.

Pray for those whom we know or those in our communities who have lost loved ones in the call to service for our country. Pray that God give their families strength to face each day, knowing they have paid the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of a nation grateful for their service. Today we acknowledge their giving of their lives with humility and with a debt of thanks. We also give thanks to God for the ultimate sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ, who died for all of us to defeat sin, Satan, and death.

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.