Pastor’s Corner: “Sacrifice for Freedom”
John 15:13 (NIV) – 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
If you think about it, every one of us knows someone or our life has been touched by the hardship and sacrifice of those who have served our country in the armed service. Many of our veterans who live among us go unnoticed or overlooked and we forget the sacrifice that they made for the freedoms we take for granted. They carry burdens, emotional wounds and loss from their service to us and our country. We need to thank them and honor the sacrifices made by valuing and living up to the freedoms we have been given!
I am so grateful to live in a land where we’re free to worship the Lord and preach His Gospel message. But freedom is never free. It always comes at a cost. The freedom we enjoy today came at a tremendous price—it was bought and paid for by our veterans, both past and present, making the ultimate sacrifice for their country and fellow citizens.
John 15:13 tells us, “Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” It was because of LOVE that Jesus laid His life down for you at the cross. His sacrifice for our freedom from sin and death. And He still loves you today, more than you’ll know.
I hope you’ll join me in remembering those who have also laid down their lives for our freedom. Let’s never forget the brave men and women who served the cause of freedom in the past, nor those whose service today enables us to continue to live and worship freely.
Please Join Me in Praying for Our Veterans:
Dear heavenly Father, we lift up our veterans, please let them feel truly honored, loved and appreciated. Let no one feel forgotten or neglected. Lord, even though we do not fully understand their experience, we are thankful that You see, You know and You identify with them in everything and You know exactly what they need. Lord, please bring healing to their bodies and their emotional wounds. You know every veteran by name. You know their deeds, their hard work, and their perseverance. You know their needs, both material and spiritual. Please draw each one closer to you and grant them all the peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7), the peace of Christ to rule in their hearts (Colossians 3:15), and ‘joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand’ forevermore (Psalm 16:11).” In Jesus Name – Amen!
May each of our veterans feel valued and honored not just today… but every day.
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton