Our nation recognizes those who have given everything to preserve, and even usher in freedom as we know it. One of those special days we celebrate is Memorial Day. It was originally called Decoration Day, and was first officially celebrated in 1868. During the Civil War, there were more fallen soldiers than in any other national conflict up to that point. So this was an opportunity to honor those lives, and remind others of the destruction that comes with selfishness, pride, and hate.
It doesn’t take much to appreciate their sacrifice, and a day like Memorial Day helps us focus on the gift they helped to make possible. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ gave His own life on a cross. Jesus’ sacrifice gives us hope at eternal life with our Father in heaven. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
The blood of Christ was shed on a cross so that you and I could live. Jesus died so that we could live eternally. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
We gather on the first day of the week so that we can remember the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We observe and remember Him every day of our lives, but we have a memorial set in place on every Sunday. It is the Christian’s Memorial Day. Memorial Sunday. The Christians in Troas were gathering every “first day of the week…to break bread” (Acts 20:7).
I hope we are forever thankful for the men and women who died for defending our country. But I also hope we are even more thankful for a Savior who died to offer the ultimate freedom, the freedom from sin.
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Sunday, May 14, 2017
A Mother's Love
It’s in the unspoken words that some of the most profound speeches are made. It’s in the stillness of a moment where some of the most tender comforts are given. It’s within the unseen acts of love that mothers tend to reside. They don’t show compassion or give advice for notoriety or fame. They do what they do because they love us. Words and hugs are not always needed, just their presence can make us feel safe and loved again.
But perhaps because of the often silent and unseen acts of love by our mothers, we may forget to let them know how much of a blessing they’ve been to our lives. There are so many things that our mothers have done that no one ever knew they did. What lengths would a mother go for their children? Our mothers have helped to shape us into the kind of people we’ve become.
In time, who they have been to us and what they did for us can often be seen and appreciated better. To watch my wife care for our children, and now reciprocate many of the same actions my mother demonstrated towards me has a deeper meaning now. The children we’ve been blessed with have now defined who we are; they are the ones who in their often whiny or stubborn ways have given our life a more fulfilling purpose.
To watch my wife become a mother to our children, to care and nurture them, allows me to see how the cycle goes. And the more I see the cycle in motion the more I understand God’s nature. He, too, is a loving parent that has a nurturing side, a compassionate side, a tender comforting side. He loves us more than we can know, and often He doesn’t receive the recognition He deserves.
Romans 5:8-10 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
A fingerprint of His selfless nature can be seen in how mothers tirelessly serve their children without complaint. Never asking for anything in return, but to quietly long for their love in return. They represent an important part of God that we cannot overlook. Fathers may represent to some degree the provisions and protection of God, but mothers often represent the unfailing love of God.
God was willing to go through extreme rejection, humility, and pain in order to save His children from eternal destruction. When we realize that, it should convince us that hell is no joking matter, that it must be so bad that God would do anything to keep His children out of there.
In Proverbs 31:10-31, Lemuel describes a godly mom and a godly woman, but he also describes the kind of care and compassion that our God has towards us. As Jesus expresses in Matthew 23:37, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.”
Proverbs 31:15, “She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.” – She’s sacrificial.
Proverbs 31:18, “Her lamp does not go out at night.” – She’s long suffering
Proverbs 31:20-21, “She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.” – She is generous
Proverbs 31:26, “She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” – She gives good advice
How much does God love you? What lengths is God willing to go to keep you safe? God loves each one of us. He wants us to succeed, He wants us to rise above the pits of this life, and He wants us to trust in Him for the strength. Our mothers, as great as they are, have physical limitations; our Heavenly Father has no limitations. He’s all powerful and is able to wipe away every tear.
But perhaps because of the often silent and unseen acts of love by our mothers, we may forget to let them know how much of a blessing they’ve been to our lives. There are so many things that our mothers have done that no one ever knew they did. What lengths would a mother go for their children? Our mothers have helped to shape us into the kind of people we’ve become.
In time, who they have been to us and what they did for us can often be seen and appreciated better. To watch my wife care for our children, and now reciprocate many of the same actions my mother demonstrated towards me has a deeper meaning now. The children we’ve been blessed with have now defined who we are; they are the ones who in their often whiny or stubborn ways have given our life a more fulfilling purpose.
To watch my wife become a mother to our children, to care and nurture them, allows me to see how the cycle goes. And the more I see the cycle in motion the more I understand God’s nature. He, too, is a loving parent that has a nurturing side, a compassionate side, a tender comforting side. He loves us more than we can know, and often He doesn’t receive the recognition He deserves.
Romans 5:8-10 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
A fingerprint of His selfless nature can be seen in how mothers tirelessly serve their children without complaint. Never asking for anything in return, but to quietly long for their love in return. They represent an important part of God that we cannot overlook. Fathers may represent to some degree the provisions and protection of God, but mothers often represent the unfailing love of God.
God was willing to go through extreme rejection, humility, and pain in order to save His children from eternal destruction. When we realize that, it should convince us that hell is no joking matter, that it must be so bad that God would do anything to keep His children out of there.
In Proverbs 31:10-31, Lemuel describes a godly mom and a godly woman, but he also describes the kind of care and compassion that our God has towards us. As Jesus expresses in Matthew 23:37, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.”
Proverbs 31:15, “She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.” – She’s sacrificial.
Proverbs 31:18, “Her lamp does not go out at night.” – She’s long suffering
Proverbs 31:20-21, “She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.” – She is generous
Proverbs 31:26, “She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” – She gives good advice
How much does God love you? What lengths is God willing to go to keep you safe? God loves each one of us. He wants us to succeed, He wants us to rise above the pits of this life, and He wants us to trust in Him for the strength. Our mothers, as great as they are, have physical limitations; our Heavenly Father has no limitations. He’s all powerful and is able to wipe away every tear.