“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)
While I often enjoy the gratitude people share with me for being a Vet, I want to remind myself and others, that Memorial Day is not about the living veteran, it is about the veterans who have given the ultimate sacrifices for our freedoms. If a person lays down their life for someone else, they assumed the risk of dying so that another, or others, might have the opportunity to live life to the fullest. That is a selfless sacrifice.
Some of our fellow Americans died in various related combat experiences, while others died long after the battles due to combat injuries, both physical and emotional, while yet others are still suffering and slowly dying from chemical warfare (Agent Orange), and PTSD has caused many to end their lives. However you define it, a sacrifice was made for others.
These are the men and women I honor on this Memorial Day!
I certainly do not want to take anything away from the honor they richly deserve; however, our nation is in desperate crisis mode in nearly every walk of life. There are enemy spiritual forces at work over the hearts and minds of normally good citizens. The demonic world is striving to break America’s back locally and throughout the world. Every commandment of God has been made a mockery and even ratified as unessential in today’s modern society; some of which are actually being permitted as legal rights of citizens.
Beloved, our nation is divided over nearly everything related to sexuality, marriage and family. The evil one has worked very hard to destroy everything God has created and ordained as right and good. He has even tip-toed through God’s house drawing believers into the same thoughts and activities as the world.
There was a point in time where Satan guided the Church to begin structuring itself after corporate America. The Church was becoming a type of business. There was another point in time where the Church began imitate the gimmicks of the American music entertainment in the name of drawing young worldly people into the Church. In many places it is more of a concert hall than a house of worship.
Now, I know this has not happened in all of God’s Churches, but even if it were only one it would be one too many. However, we know that there are more than one such described. The churches of America are in despairing need of revival.
“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” (Ezekiel 22:30)
Each of God’s people has the opportunity and responsibility, even the privilege to lay down their lives, “die to self” as Scripture encourages for the believer. The Church needs reviving, a Spirit-led revival that leads to brokenness, repentance, and a return to the spiritual power she was intended to be in the world. There is always a remnant of God’s dedicated to pray, intercede, for the land. It is to you that I encourage beginning an ultimate sacrifice of prayer for the Church and your country. Beloved, be a gap-stander! Pray On!
