What did you do to celebrate Memorial Day? Did you have a cookout or did you spend the day at the beach? Whatever you did, you were able to do it because over a million Americans have pledged to protect and defend our country from all enemies both foreign and domestic. They are willing to put their lives at risk so yours will be safe. They don’t waver; they just do it.
This kind of sacrifice is something we appreciate and most of us say we could never do. Those who are in the military are called to it. It runs in their veins. They have a burning desire to serve their country and fellow man and do it eagerly. To ask them not to serve is to ask them not to breathe.
As believers, we are all called to lay our lives down daily as well; however, many of us lack the obedience of a soldier and battle over the choice. We want the freedom that comes from sacrifice, but we don’t want the cost. Jesus makes it very clear to us all, if we are to find our life, we must first lose it [Matthew 10:39, 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24, 17:33; and John 12:25]. The Lord wanted to drive this point home, so it is in the Word six different times. He wanted to make sure we understood freedom comes with a cost. There must be sacrifice. There is no other way.
Will you willingly enlist in the Lord’s army, following His every command? By doing so, you will live in freedom many never experience.
Take a moment today to thank the Lord for every man and woman who serves our country. Ask Him to bless them and their families they’ve left behind. Lift them up daily as if they were your husbands, brothers, fathers, sisters and mothers. The cost to you is so little for those who give so much.