Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today, Americans pause to remember those who gave their lives for their freedom.

This inspires me to pause and remember the One who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of all believe on His name.

The Apostle Paul wrote in today’s scripture, Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)…
[13] For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, [14] who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Consider…
According to Wikipedia, Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

That explanation of Memorial Day highlights a couple of key points about what it means to memorialize someone.

Cambridge dictionary defines memorialize as, to make people remember a person or event, or to show that you remember them.

This brings 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NLT) to my mind…
[23] For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread [24] and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [25] In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” [26] For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

We recite this scripture for Holy Communion regularly, but have we ever paused to think about the fact that the Apostle Paul wasn’t present at the last supper, yet he said that he passed on what he received from the Lord himself?

Tangentially, Moses is credited with authorship of Genesis, yet he was born lifetimes after creation.

These are valuable points to consider because they illustrate 1 Corinthians 2:10-12 (NLT), which says…
[10] But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. [11] No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. [12] And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

The Holy Spirit is telling us that we don’t have to see things firsthand to understand, appreciate, and honor what Jesus did for us. We know what we know because the Holy Spirit has made it known to us.

Ephesians 1:9-11 (NLT) explains…
[9] God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. [10] And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. [11] Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

Knowing that Jesus Christ sacrificing His life was intentional, to carry-out God’s eternal plan, should make us pause and honor Him.

You see, there’s a stark distinction from choosing to serve knowing that you could die, to choosing to serve knowing that you must die.

Remember, Jesus confessed in Matthew 20:28 (NLT)…
[28] For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

We honor Jesus Christ because He knowingly came to die for us.

As I wrote that I heard Hezekiah Walker sings…

There was a baby boy
Born in this world of sin
Born just to die for us
So that we could live
There was a baby boy
Born in this world of sin
Born just to die for us
So that we could live

There’s something else subtle in Jesus’ humble sacrificial servant statement, which is the fact that He not only sacrificed His life for us, He also sacrificed His highest ranking position.

Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT) explains…
[6] Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. [7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, [8] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

The closest comparison I can think of is a five-star General going to the front lines, and replacing a lowly private, knowing death was certain.

Yet, what Jesus, the Son of God, did is even more incomprehensible…
he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.

We honor Christ because the Creator willingly and humbly became the created.

And if that’s not mind-blowing enough…
he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

We honor Jesus because the only truly innocent person to ever live, willingly died a criminal’s death, both figuratively and literally, so that the guilty could be set free.

Recall, Jesus replaced the notorious Barabbas on the cross, and he died all Sin once for all time. (Hebrews 10:10-12)

I don’t know if we can ever fully comprehend the significance of the innocent dying for the guilty, but 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT) explains…
[21] For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

God made Jesus what He wasn’t (Sin), so that we could become who we weren’t (Righteous).

This makes me sing the hymn lyrics…

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

We honor Jesus Christ because 1 John 2:2 (NLT) declares…
[2] He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

Needless to say, I could go on and on about honoring Jesus for the sacrifice He made for us. However, the Holy Spirit showed me one final Memorial Day parallel that is often overlooked. You see, citizens of the United States celebrate the sacrifices fallen military personnel made for their country.

The Holy Spirit is emphasizing, only God’s Kingdom citizens can truly appreciate the sacrifice Christ made for their citizenship.

He is saying Christians should remember Philippians 3:20-21 (NLT)
declares…
[20] But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. [21] He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Also that Ephesians 2:19-21 (NLT) reminds Believers…
[19] So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. [20] Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. [21] We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

Accordingly, those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior must live in light of 1 Peter 2:9-12 (NLT)…
[9] But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. [10] “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” [11] Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. [12] Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

So today, let’s honor Jesus Christ by living as His Kingdom citizens, free from Sin because of Him.

I like the way Jesus said it better in Matthew 5:16 (NLT)…
[16] In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

So on this Memorial Day, let’s memorialize Christ by living sacrificially for Him toward others as He did. (1 John 3:16)

Today’s song is…
The Anthem

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)