In Memory…
John 15:13
May 24, 2009
NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT IS FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE."
Me: I’ve said a number of times that I’m not real big on speaking from the pulpit about what I call “Hallmark Holidays” that seem to be nothing more than days that card companies and florists can make more money.
Mother’s Day is a great example of that.
You may know that Mother’s Day was started by a young lady named Anna Jarvis as a religious observance to be held in churches, then to be recognized by the US Government.
But after a number of years, Miss Jarvis began to actively oppose Mother’s Day because of the commercialization, including the flowers and cards.
It’s a “Hallmark Holiday,” in my opinion.
Memorial Day, on the other hand, is not.
As most of you know, Memorial Day was first called, “Decoration Day” and was a day of remembrance of those who gave the supreme sacrifice for our country.
Over the last year or two I’ve been convicted that I haven’t spoken enough about the sacrifice that men and women over the ages have made on our behalf.
And it’s been over the last few years that God has been giving me a better appreciation for those who have died in the service of their country.
We: Memorial Day is a fitting time to remember the sacrifice of our servicemen and women. We also remember them on the 4th of July, and on Veteran’s Day in November.
I think it’s fitting that we have multiple observances throughout the year, because it can serve to keep us mindful of the fact that it’s people who in many cases are just like you and me who have gone to the battlefields, the skies, and the seas to gain and protect our freedoms.
So I hope that during these few minutes this morning you will see fit to pray tribute to those who have died for us.
God: You’ve probably noticed by now that your note-taking guide is pretty bare.
Usually I like to give you an outline with blanks and stuff
In the gospel of John, Jesus is talking with His disciples as He’s getting ready to be arrested, tried, and crucified.
During this conversation, He lets the disciples know that He has altered their relationship a bit.
He says that they are no longer His servants, but His friends, if they will obey Him. And just before He says that, He says this in John 15:13 –
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
Now, Jesus is primarily referencing Himself as He prepares to lay down His life for His followers, including you and me.
But I think this verse holds true in broader applications as well.
And I think it holds true as we think about the sacrifice of those patriots who laid down their lives for us.
They laid down their lives for their friends, family, and even complete strangers because they believed that freedom was worth fighting for – and even dying for.
I hope you won’t hold it against me if I tell you that I think this is the greatest country in the world.
It’s full of flaws and I’d love it if we as a nation gave more room for Christ to be mentioned and talked about in our government.
But in spite of its shortcomings, I still think this country is the best around. I’m admittedly a bit prejudiced when I say that, but I’m not afraid to say it.
Part of what makes this country great is the many freedoms we enjoy.
We have freedom of speech. We can say anything we want to regarding opinions about our government without going to jail.
We can protest the policies of our government and even scorn our military. The same military that’s dying to preserve your freedom to protest.
In this country, you can make fun of the government, and instead of going to jail, you get paid by your publisher or TV network.
We get to participate in a democratic republic that allows its citizens to vote at every level of government.
We can travel anywhere in the country without having to have a passport and permission from a local politician.
We have freedom to work in whatever occupation we wish – at least until the boss gets fed up with us…
We can own a business or we can work for someone else, we can own a car, a boat, a house, or multiples of any of these things depending on our income, because we live in a country that doesn’t put caps on what we’re allowed to make.
We can own guns for defense as well as for provision and for sport. And while I know that there are plenty of people who want to take that right away, it’s still there, and I think it would be good for people to remember that the birth of our country is due in large part to private citizens using their own firearms to defeat the tyranny of King George.
And of course, we have freedom of religion.
You and I gather today in freedom. We can publish our service times and sermon titles (when I get them to Jolene in time…), we can open Bibles and speak freely of Jesus and sing to Him.
A boy stopped before a large marble plaque in the church. "What are all those names for?" he asked the minister.
"Sonny," said the minister, "those are in memory of all the people who died in the service."
The boy replied: "WHICH service, Reverend? The morning or the evening service?" Author Unknown
Hopefully that’ll never happen here. Sometimes when I’m telling people where the church is located, I tell them we’re located across from Carlson Funeral Home, and that as of yet, no one has had to go there from here on a Sunday…
Back to our religious freedoms.
You can own a Bible. In fact, most of us own several.
On that subject, let me ask you something: when was the last time you thanked God specifically that you have that kind of access to the Scriptures? And when was the last time you reflected on the fact that it cost a serviceman his life for you to have that access?
For most of us, including myself, it’s been way too long.
We can set up websites that tell our religious and political views without danger of being arrested and going to jail.
I can say anything from this pulpit I want to regarding the Scriptures and how to live for Christ. I can preach the gospel both here and out in the streets.
We can put bumper stickers on my car that tell of my faith. We can write letters to the editor that give my religious convictions about things of concern to me or the area.
We even have the freedom to be stupid in how we express our religious beliefs and opinions – and all too often, that’s what happens!
Folks, we enjoy freedoms in this country that citizens of other countries can only dream of.
And we enjoy these freedoms because of the sacrifice of people who didn’t just talk about being willing to die, but who actually did die.
I’d like you to watch a video about Memorial Day.
(Video)
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
These soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and other servicemen and women laid down their lives for their friends.
And they laid them down for strangers as well. For you and me.
You: Listen to the words of Peter Marshall, during one of his prayers as chaplain of the US Senate a few decades back:
"Lord Jesus, thou who art the way, the truth, and the life; hear us as we pray for the truth that shall make all free. Teach us that liberty is not only to be loved but also to be lived. Liberty is too precious a thing to be buried in books. It costs too much to be hoarded. Help us see that our liberty is not the right to do as we please, but the opportunity to please to do what is right." (SermonCentral.com, contributed by Mark Hensley)
Take some concrete action this week. Here are some suggestions:
> Go to a Memorial Day service tomorrow if there is one.
> Visit a cemetery and pray for the loved ones of one of the veterans there, thanking God for the heroic service that person made on your behalf.
> Get involved in keeping our freedoms today.
Contact your legislators, vote, use the public forums, support the soldiers, even if you’re not in favor of the war.
> Live like you cherish the freedom you have to live and speak for Christ.
Read the Scriptures, apply them to your life. Attend church and community events where the gospel is shared and Christ is lifted up.
Remind yourself and others that ignoring the opportunities we have to worship is insulting to those who perished to give us that freedom.
> Purchase some Gideon scriptures in honor of a serviceman or woman, or in memory of a fallen serviceman or woman.
> Remember those believers in other lands who are dying for the sake of religious freedom around the world.
We: Folks, I don’t want to belabor the point, but the fact is that we can be here today because of others who can’t.
My hope is that as you’re at home tomorrow, doing whatever it is you’ve got planned, you’ll be mindful of the fact that someone paid the ultimate price for you to enjoy your holiday and all it represents.
Remember that freedom isn’t free. Obtaining it wasn’t free, and keeping it isn’t free, either. Let’s pray.
