Like most of you, I’m spending this Memorial Day holiday with my family. It’s the unofficial start to the summer season.

We’ll also spend some time reflecting on the primary purpose of Memorial Day. Both Hollianne and I have many family members who served our country. We are grateful for their service- and want to honor the sacrifice that many service men and women gave to protect our country and to provide the freedoms that we enjoy everyday.

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

It’s difficult to imagine. People fighting for our country even though danger and death are inevitable. It’s important that we tell our children these stories about our family members and friends who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

But everyday should be Memorial Day.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Jesus was sent to die on the cross so that we might experience eternal life with Him in heaven. He knew all about the sins of the world- our faults, our flaws and our every impure thought- yet He loved all of us enough to lay down His life for the forgiveness of our sins.

He died for those who cursed and spit on Him. He died for those thieves who accompanied Him on other crosses on Calvary. He died for you and me.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Enjoy and appreciate this Memorial Day. Honor those who laid down their lives for us. Also spend some time reflecting on the Cross- and be grateful that Jesus loved us enough to die for us…died for the sins of the whole world.

Let that soak in. He died for the sins of the whole world.

God bless you. Let me know how I can pray for you this week. I love you.

Reprinted from May 2015