Memorial Day

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.