The Cost Of Love - Greater Love Series

THE COST OF LOVE

Memorial Day Sunday

MEMORIAL DAY

In April 1863, in Columbus, Mississippi, after decorating graves of her two sons who died representing their beloved southland, an elderly woman walked to two mounds of dirt at the corner of the cemetery to place memorial flowers there also. "What are you doing?" friends shouted, "Those are the graves of two union soldiers." Softly that compassionate mother said, "I know. I also know that somewhere in the North, a mother or a young wife mourns for them as we do for ours."

That loving deed set in motion our celebration which has become known as Memorial Day. We honor the war dead once a year, but their sacrifice is evident every single day of the year! Today, we want to honor the memory of all those who have sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom. Those thousands of sacrificed lives were not given in vain! Because of their sacrifice, we are free today and have the right to assemble ourselves together and worship our God.

In honor and recognition of all of our fallen service members, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, has requested that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer and reflection, on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance.

This Sunday before Memorial Day, we honor their memories and support the families, caregivers, and survivors left behind.

As we honor the memories of our fallen heroes, we are grateful for the future they made possible for us and rededicate ourselves to seeking enduring peace. Our heroes gave their lives for our country, and they live forever in our hearts — forever proud, forever honorable, and forever American.

Memorial Day Scripture:

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Psalm 67:1-7 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. (2) That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. (3) Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. (4) O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. (5) Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. (6) Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. (7) God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; (2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; (4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (6) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Memorial Day Prayer:

Heavenly Father, today and every day, we ask You to protect our troops, to bring to our remembrance the fallen, those who sacrificed and gave all; we ask for You to bring comfort to their families. We pray for those who mourn a loved one, we pray for those families who have lost a loved one in conflict, our thoughts and prayers are for you. Our Nation owes you and those you have lost a tremendous debt that we can never fully repay. Forgive us Father for taking for granted, even for a second the sacrifice given for our freedom. God bless those families; God bless our churches and May God bless the USA!

THE COST OF LOVE

“Greater Love”

Congregational Reading:

(13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The passage before us today is one of the most highly referred to in Scripture, as it relates to the sacrifice of love.

If we are familiar with the words of Jesus, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” then our minds often think of someone such as a soldier who has given their life for their country.