As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

On this Memorial Day, we honor those who died while serving to defend our country. The act of dying is not unique; everyone dies eventually. But the manner in which someone dies can be distinguishing, and for those soldiers who died defending another, we honor them. We honor the hearts of these men and women because they had hearts that took after the heart of our Savior Jesus Christ. In the book of Philippians, Paul describes the heart of Jesus, a sacrificial giver: “rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”
‭‭(Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬-‭8‬)

When I think about the sacrifices of so many to win freedom and sustain it in this country, the phrase that comes to mind is “humble servant”. Soldiers must travel far and wide to seek out and destroy those who wish to take away our freedoms. They leave their families behind. And they sacrifice to serve!

Thank you to all who have sacrificed to serve me, my family, and my country. It is a gift I am so grateful for! May you know that you are appreciated!

Jesus traveled a long way from his throne in heaven, like a soldier, to battle evil. And he won a victory through his death over sin and darkness — evil — once and for all. We can live in this victory if we accept him into our hearts as Lord and Savior and follow him faithfully.

Praise you, Jesus, for modeling sacrificial servanthood for us. I am forever grateful and blessed because of your sacrifice. I pray that you bless the families and friends of those who have died in service to our country, defending our freedoms. Help them to know their sacrifice was valued and they are loved!