How Would You Apply Today’s Scripture To Honor Those Who Have Given Their Lives For Our Faith?
Good Morning Friends,
This holiday weekend we honor the memory of our nation’s fallen heroes who knowingly risked their lives and made the ultimate sacrifice. So, take a moment to share a reminder of a patriot with a touching story in your community of believers, for they have been friends, even though we may never have met them, and if they died in the Spirit they live on in a way that honors God in communion with the saints. Today’s scripture enlightens us on the topic. But, How Would You Apply Today’s Scripture To Honor Those Who Have Given Their Lives For Our Faith?
Scripture: Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds, we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 (NRSV)
And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites; on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23
Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.
John 14:23-29 (NRSV)
Message: We are called to have a common purpose in what we do. It is the goal of civilization. The purpose is to worship, to love, and to celebrate Christ and share God always. That was our challenge and mission from the beginning, and it still is even with a focus on those who have served and sacrificed. For their memory should motivate us to fight the good fight especially for those who cannot fight for themselves. And when we do, for the right cause, we become part of a fellowship of glory that embodies a creative spirit. And by the Spirit’s very nature this extends a grace that breathes new life and a new creation in that which has been dark. Here in eternity God’s eternal light shines forth. And this grace in fellowship grows our faith as it acknowledges a hope for a new creation of peace in a City of God…. a dwelling place of honor for eternity for all believers. And here friends, there is honor and hospitality that speaks to our souls of the memory of those who serve with love. Here we remember them but more importantly Jesus remember us together. So, this holiday weekend I am suggesting that we extend some grace to those who serve and have served. You see, the most important moment in life might well be the moment we die if we believe. And the second most important moment in life, is right now. So right now I hope we examine our priorities, our consciences, our current path so that our ending be a beginning that sprouts forth new love that lives on.
And So, this Memorial Day Weekend is ultimately about honoring the risen Christ as an assurance of an enduring life to those who are his own. Friends, because Jesus lives, we too will live. And so, how we live in this life, whom we follow, what we believe in, and whether we have lived a life of Truth and Love determine how we will experience eternity. If we follow the path of faithful obedience, loving God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves, then we will be forever in the loving embrace of the Trinity. If we follow the path of the fool, a path of self-centered existence, seeking only our own pleasure, power and fame, ignoring God and others, we will forever die. The world would rather we forget what happens after this life and would rather we live this life ignorant of the most important phase of our life which happens afterwards. And that is why honor is at the foundation of our way of life, if we are truly Christians. For though the Spirit we are connected to a way of honoring Jesus who died so that we might live in abundance. Friends, honor is significant and central to everything in the Bible. It is the reason God says to “honor your father and mother.” Here there is a promise and if we listen very carefully it will unlock the door to our spiritual success in honoring those who have died in service and those who live on in the faith. But especially in honoring our Father in heaven and the eternal life of Jesus and the Spirit that lives on in each of us.
Pray we consider this weekend the life and death of Jesus but also his resurrection and gift of the Spirit. Pray we listen to God and find ways to honor the Jesus in those who have bonded with us for the journey. Pray we see, hear and do what Jesus Christ commands of us. Pray we honor our parents and in like ways honor those have been our friends in ways that glorify God the Father. Pray we receive the Spirit of truth and the grace and love of Jesus. Pray we are living a life of obedience and one that honors God. Pray we are really living in love. Pray for the grace of final perseverance, so that our last moment is just a continuation of an existence of faith, hope and charity that lives on in Jesus. Pray we have a peace that passes understanding. Pray we honor those who have served in a way that honors the light eternal.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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