Earlier this week we celebrated an American holiday known as Memorial Day. This day is set aside to honor those men and women who have died while serving as a part of the United States military. Many people honored those who gave their lives for our country, visiting cemeteries or memorials and posting heartfelt messages across different social media platforms. We do what we can to honor those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom so they are never forgotten.

While we are thankful to each man and woman who has paid the ultimate price for our physical freedom, we should be even more grateful to the man who paid the ultimate price for our spiritual freedom. You see, we were in desperate need of a savior. Our sins caused us to be separated from God (Isa. 59:1-2). None of us could expunge our own sins or do anything to bring us back into a faithful relationship with God. We were spiritually dead in our trespasses (Eph. 2:1-3).

“But God.” Two small words that pack so much power. Even though we were spiritually dead and had nothing to offer God, because of His great love for us, He made us alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:4-5). Jesus laid down His life in self-sacrifice so we could have freedom from our sins (Jn. 10:17-18). He was willing to do for us what we could never do for ourselves.

I am grateful to all those who have given so much so you and I might live freely in America. These men and women have paid a great price and deserve to be remembered and respected by all Americans. However, even more so, Jesus deserves to be remembered and respected by ALL PEOPLE. He gave His life on the cross of Calvary so we, Americans and non-Americans, could experience a freedom like no other. He died so we could have the forgiveness of our sins. Friends, may we never forget the great sacrifice Jesus made for us.