Remember Me
Webster defines memorial as, "something designed to keep remembrance alive". Memorial Day commemorates those who gave their lives in serving their country. Memorial Day can also be a day to commemorate the one who gave His life in serving mankind. It's important to remember both and Memorial Day can help us do that. What does Memorial Day prompt us to reflect On?
1) MEMORIAL DAY PROMPTS US TO REFLECT ON SACRIFICE.
Jesus said in John 15:13, Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. Memorial Day helps us to remember the men and women of the armed forces who have sacrificed their lives serving the USA. Memorial Day prompts us to reflect on the love they had in being willing to give their all in love for their fellow man. This kind of sacrifice involves self-denial and an undying commitment to the cause. It involves a willingness to face dangerous situations and press on despite fear. It involves staying true to the mission even if it means death. This is the love and sacrifice of those we honor today. These are also the attributes of Jesus. His life was one of self denial and sacrifice. Jesus had an undying commitment to the cause of saving mankind from their sins. Jesus' mission was death. Jesus' purpose was to give his life as a ransom as he said of himself in Matthew 20:28, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
2) MEMORIAL DAY PROMPTS US TO REFLECT ON FREEDOM.
Memorial Day allows us to remember the benefit we've received from the sacrifice of the valiant soldier; which is freedom. There's a poem that reads
“It is the Soldier, not the minister Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politicianWho has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag.”
The soldiers we are remembering on Memorial Day fought and gave their lives for freedom from possible tyranny and dictatorship. They fought to preserve our inalienable rights. If not for the bravery of those in battle, if not for the strong men and women throughout history who were willing to die for freedom's sake, we would not be a free nation. As Memorial Day prompts us to reflect on our national freedom, there's another freedom that Memorial Day can prompt us to reflect on-our spiritual freedom. John 8:34-36 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[b] to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Without the unmatched valor of Jesus, we wouldn't have the possibility to become free from sin's tyranny. If not for Jesus' willingness to die for freedom's sake, we would still be held in bondage to sin power and subject to sin's penalty which is death. But, in order to be truly free, we need to respond to the truth and we need to hold to the truth. Jesus said in John 8:31-32, So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
3) MEMORIAL DAY PROMPTS US TO NEVER FORGET.
Memorial Day is in place so that we don't forget the depth of service and sacrifice of our nation's fallen heroes. But as we're called on to remember the soldier's sacrificial offering, We are also called on to remember Jesus' sacrificial offering in 1st Cor. 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for[f] you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Taking part in Communion is a reminder for those who have been set free to remember the death of the one who gave us life. Regarding the Savior as well as the soldier, we always need to remember; lest we forget.
In conclusion a poem by Kelly Strong comes to mind - Freedom Isn't Free
I watched the flag pass by one day, it fluttered in the breeze;
A young Marine saluted it, and then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform, so young, so tall, so proud;
with hair cut square and eyes alert, he'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought, how many men like him had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil, how many Mother's tears?
How many pilot's planes shot down above the deep blue sea?
How many foxholes were soldier's graves, no, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of taps one night, when everything was still;
I listened to the bugler play, and felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times, that Taps had meant, 'Amen';
when a flag had draped a coffin, of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children, of the Mothers and the wives;
of Fathers sons and husbands, with interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard at the bottom of the sea;
of unmarked graves at Arlington, no freedom isn't free.
