MEMORIAL DAY

It’s hard to believe that Memorial Day is upon us once again. While we may have a variety of plans for tomorrow, let’s not forget that it is a day of remembering the men and women who died in service of our country in the Armed Forces. All who served, and their families, made sacrifices, but some paid the ultimate price. I pray that we always treasure our freedoms and honor those who have served to protect them—for us and for others. 

Days like Memorial Day are important. They bring certain things to remembrance that ought not be forgotten.  As I think about it, many of our holidays are days of either special recognition (Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Veteran’s Day) or remembrance (Christmas, Easter, 4th of July, and Memorial Day). I’m sure others could be listed, but I think we get the point … there are things that we need to remember and recognize.

The same is true regarding our Christian heritage. When I think of memorials, two things come to mind: the stones of remembrance in Joshua 4, and the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11. In Joshua 4, twelve stones were taken from the midst of the Jordan and were used to create a memorial for generations to come, so that they would remember how Israel crossed over the Jordan on dry ground at the hand of God. Hebrews 11 walks us through history showing us how several heroes of the faith persevered and triumphed in their walk with God. What amazes me is the ending of this chapter: “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” (Heb 11:39-40 ESV) In these two verses, we are connected to all those people through Jesus Christ. What a privilege!

 

So, this Memorial Day, please take time to remember the price that was paid for our freedom: by those who died in service of our country and by Jesus Christ, the “founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). 

In His grip,

Pastor Decker