"Memorial Day"

"And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever." Exodus 12:14

Today in America we are celebrating Memorial Day. It's a time when we give honor to those who laid down their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have in this nation. As we remember the sacrifice they made we must also remember the greatest sacrifice that was made for us. We must remember that Jesus paid the supreme sacrifice for our freedom when He laid down His life on the cross for our sins.

Memorial Day is an American holiday- we honor the brave men and women throughout our history who fought and died in wars past to help preserve this nation's freedom. But what Jesus did for us through His death is not just an "American" observation. He died for the sins of the whole world. He died for everyone- no one is excluded. ("For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son."- John 3:16a)

It has taken many men and women throughout history to obtain our nation's freedoms, but it only took one to obtain our freedom from sin. ("For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Romans 5:19)

It was with great joy that Jesus laid down His life to give us freedom from sin. What He did for us is not a once a year observance. It is a daily recognition. Daily we should remember the price that He paid for our sins. Daily we should thank Him for taking our place on the cross and for taking the punishment for our sins that we so rightfully deserved. Daily we should acknowledge that without Him we would still be held in bondage to sin. Daily we should thank Him for laying down His life for us. ("Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself." John 10:17,18a; "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2)

Have a great day. Every day should be a memorial day to Jesus.