On Veteran’s Day we honor those who have made great
sacrifices so we can enjoy the freedoms that we have. Some have sacrificed limbs, physical
ailments, family time, careers, and some have sacrificed the ultimate with
their lives. They sacrifice so that we
can enjoy a life of freedom.
I remember walking through an airport this last summer and
people were thanking military members and were doing small acts of kindness for
them like buying coffee at Starbucks as they waited for their flights. I have former students who chose to join the
military so they could explore a larger world than what they have known their
whole lives. Obedience is the common
characteristic that all of the young people from my classroom that went into
the military had. It’s only fitting that
with obedience comes sacrifice.
Many Christians connect the life of Jesus and the sacrifice
He made to those in the military, but what many of us omit is the obedience
that sacrifice takes. Obedience builds
character. It’s obedience to follow the
guidelines to protect not just ourselves, but our comrades around us. The military is about protecting the
community and the country, not just individuals.
Imagine if the church would become like the military and
work together through all of our differences and begin to sacrifice for people to
meet Jesus. It does not mean sacrificing
theological beliefs, but how about we sacrifice our stylistic choices of
church. We need to sacrifice our selfish
desires in order to get out of the way so others can see Jesus.
Obedience to Jesus means we love, have mercy and grace. Many people will say that churches should
preach sin and list all of our sins. I’ve
been reading the sermons of Peter, Stephen, and Paul. They listed their sins. We all have sins and we know which ones we
commit. We need the sacrifice of Jesus
not the shaming of a Christian. With obedience
to Jesus we will begin to sacrifice.
Then, we will see the beauty in others that our world so desperately
needs.
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