Selfless sacrifices that put the fate of others above ourselves are always to be honored.
Today is Memorial Day in the United States of America. We, like many other nations around the world, have a special day set aside to honor those men and women who have lost their lives in the defense of our nation. It is right and fitting that we do so, and this morning I want to speak with you about sacrifices willingly given to set people free.
But first, welcome to “Mornings with Bishop Robert,” thanks for joining me. My goal is to introduce people to the Jesus they never knew, and help them get to know Him and His word personally – and better ! If our time of remembrance today speaks to your heart, then let me invite you to like, subscribe and share it with a friend !
Today’s verse says THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN TO LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE FOR ONE’S FRIENDS.
The temptation here is to begin to list stories of incredible valor and sacrifice, to share the details of the battles and heroic actions. Here’s the problem I wrestle with. The United States has had more than 1.3 million soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines make the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. I don’t want to remember some, I want to give honor to all. Because it makes no difference whether someone lost their life in a battle in Europe or in the Pacific, on Bunker Hill in Massachusetts or in Belleau Wood in France. The price is the same. The pain is the same. And we must remember their sacrifice, all of them, with the same honor.
In Great Britain, Remembrance Sunday is observed with a 2-minute silence on the Sunday nearest to Nov 11, the day World War I ended. South Korea’s Memorial Day on June 6 is marked by a one minute moment of silence. The most striking and somber remembrance I’ve seen occurs on Yom Hazikaron, Remembrance Day in Israel. At precisely 11am, as air raid sirens go off all over the nation, Israel stops and stands and remembers. For two minutes as sirens blare, people stand beside their cars on highways and on formerly busy streets in cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. They stand and share their collective and personal anguish mingled with honor for the fallen.
THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN TO LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE FOR ONE’S FRIENDS
Such great sacrifice demands great honor. The costliest battle Americans have ever fought was the final offensive of World War I, the month-long Battle of the Argonne Forest in France. Fierce beyond normal comprehension, U.S. forces expended more ammunition in the first three hours of fighting than what was used by both sides during the entire American Civil War. The families of 26,277 soldiers had to be notified that their sons had paid the ultimate price for freedom.
Numbers alone do not tell the story. Each life, each sacrifice does. As we remember each and every person who laid down their life, let us not forget one other – the man who spoke the words of our verse today.
He, too, chose to give His life to purchase our freedom, to set us free from an eternity worse than any worldly enemy ever contemplated. As we remember the brave men and women who laid their lives upon the altar of freedom – and we MUST remember – let us not forget the only one who knew for certain that the battle He was entering would absolutely require His life.
As we wrap up, can I ask you to help me introduce people to the Jesus they never knew, and help them get to know Him and His word personally – and better. Please LIKE this video, to help the message of honor and a sacrifice remembered reach many others; and FOLLOW so you and I can get together every day. Share a memory of someone YOU want to honor in the comment section. And one more thing — share it with a friend !
Thank you for helping. And thank you for remembering.
