[Jesus said:] “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15
On this Memorial Day weekend it is appropriate for us to remember all who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. During this 70th anniversary year of D-Day our thoughts often turn to World War II and those who died there.
While war is always repugnant, during that global conflict it was possible to determine that we were fighting not only for self-defense but for the protection and liberation of oppressed people all over the world. On June 18, 1940 in the House of Commons, following the collapse of France, Winston Churchill delivered his famous “Finest Hour” speech. In this speech there is an important but often overlooked statement, “I expect that the battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization.”
What Winston Churchill said in 1940 was believed by most Americans following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. But today no politician would dare call our American way of life and Western culture, “Christian civilization.”
The day when it was generally understood that we should keep Jesus’ commandments seems to be long gone. Large numbers of people in our society proudly profess to be atheists and agnostics. They want nothing to do with Jesus and His morality. Also through the decades Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and others have swelled our ranks. Christian civilization means nothing to them. Finally there are many who, although they may claim to be Christians, have no real desire for Him and His word of truth.
As you can see, although Jesus’ words seem to be simple, in practice they are quite problematic. But our difficulties don’t stop there. Jesus has said the greatest commandment is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Do we keep this greatest commandment? NO! Even we, who claim to be faithful Christians, fall short when it comes to keeping this simple command of Jesus. In fact no one keeps Jesus’ commands. The Bible tells us, “no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12).
Thank God that we are not saved by our love of Jesus, because in this we fall short every day. Thank God that we are saved by God’s love for us in Jesus. Thank God that Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for our sins upon the cross. Trust in Him for your salvation.
When we learn of Jesus love for us, we cannot help but love Him. Although we fail daily, we truly want to keep His commandments. May the Holy Spirit strengthen you for this task today and every day.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord that this statement is true: It is “not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Grant that I would always believe this. Amen.
Graves
decorated with flags at Arlington National Cemetery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Graves_at_Arlington_on_Memorial_Day.JPG
God’s
richest
blessings
in
Christ,
Pastor
Philip
Quardokus
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