Getting Ready for Memorial Day

 

We're approaching the Memorial Day holiday, which traditionally has been viewed simply as a kick-off to the summer vacation season. Memorial Day is so much more than just a kick-off to summer. 

This is a holiday which has its roots in the days following the Civil War and which began as a way to honor and remember those who had died in that war. In those days, it was known as Decoration Day. Although in recent years it has been observed much like other patriotic holidays (Independence Day and Veterans' Day) as a way to honor all the men and women who serve in our nation's military, I believe it is important to remember why we have this particular holiday.  

 

This day is so much more than a day to honor the military, as important as that is. We have Armed Forces Day (the third Saturday in May) to honor those who are now serving in our nation's military. Sadly, unless you are part of a military family or you live in a community near a military base, you may not even be aware of this holiday. And we have Veterans' Day in November to honor all those who have served in our nation's military.

This holiday, Memorial Day, is a day set aside to remember those who have died in service to our country. To remember that freedom isn't free. To remember that all those who went off to war didn't come home. Memorial Day is a day to remember.

In places like Gettysburg and Vicksburg. At Bull Run and Bunker Hill. In faraway places like Normandy and Argonne. Korea and Vietnam. Baghdad and Mosul. Kabul and Kandahar. In all these places and many more, somebody died for you. Memorial Day is a day to remember that. Somebody died for you.

As you're celebrating Memorial Day with family and friends, let's remember.

This weekend, while you're enjoying your day off from work, or your day at the beach, or your barbecue, take time to remember.

Freedom isn't free.  

Remember.

Somebody paid the ultimate price so you can enjoy all these things.

Remember.

Somebody died for you.

Remember.


"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."  (John 15:13 ESV)

Obey Right Away!

What is obedience anyway? I found this definition on-line this morning: "act of obeying: the act or practice of following instructions, complying with rules or regulations, or submitting to somebody's authority." 

 

I’m always amused when a word is defined by itself. Obedience is the act of obeying. Well, duh! Otherwise, I think that's a pretty good definition. Obedience is the act or practice of following instructions, complying with rules, submitting to authority. That pretty much sums it up, doesn't it? 

What does the Bible have to say about obedience? Quite a lot, actually. Consider these examples:

 

"Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever." (Deuteronomy 12:28 ESV) 

"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." (1 Samuel 15:22 ESV) 

“We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29 ESV) 

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." (Ephesians 6:1 ESV) 

As parents, we're ready to camp out on that last verse, aren't we? As parents and as grandparents, we expect to be obeyed when we say do this or don't do that. And we would very much prefer (see me smile!) to be obeyed the first time we give the instruction rather than having to repeat ourselves! 

In a similar way, the government expects its citizens to obey its rules and laws. Not to steal or murder. Not to cheat on taxes. Not to speed. (That may be a sore subject, depending on how "heavy" your foot is!)

What about God? Don't you think He has some expectations about obedience? Consider these examples:

"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it." (Revelation 1:3 ESV) 

"Loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days." (Deuteronomy 30:20 ESV) "

“You are the slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness." (Romans 6:17 ESV) 

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3 ESV) 

This is only a brief sampling. Get out your Bible and your concordance, and you'll find lots more. When should we obey? When we feel like it? When it's popular? When the culture thinks it's relevant? When we have no other options? 

How about that oft-repeated parental mantra: Obey right away! Obey the Scriptures. Obey when God speaks to your heart through a book you read or a Bible study or the pastor's message. Obey what God says to your heart in your prayer time. 

Obey. It's not just a word for children. It's a word that applies to mommies and daddies. To grandparents. To all of us. O

Obey. Right away. Don't put it off. Don't make excuses. Don't wait to see what somebody else does. 

Obey. 

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." (James 1:22-25 ESV)