Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Anger”
Our Bible verse for today: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
I have a confession to make. All this month I’ve been writing devotional messages designed to help all of us better control our anger, but the other day I got angry. Really angry. And I’m not talking about some kind of holy and righteous anger either. I’m talking about anger with the potential for violence. In my mind’s eye I was seeing myself grabbing a person by the throat and squeezing with all my strength until their head popped like a pimple. I was really mad.
The occasion for my anger was a report on the television news about a demonstration that took place in a city I used to live in many years ago. The demonstration was a large protest against one of the current Presidential candidates – but that’s not what made me mad. What fueled my anger was the sight of multiple protestors, on U.S. soil, at a U.S. political event, waving the flag of another nation while they were burning the flag of my nation. That made me mad.
I love America. I love God and His kingdom more, but I’m deeply grateful that God has allowed me to live in this wonderful country. I’m grateful for the freedoms we have and I’m grateful for those men and women who have given their lives in defense of our nation. Our flag is a symbol of all that is great about this wonderful country of ours and desecrating the flag is one of the few things that will move me to want to wring a person’s neck.
As I write this I have on my desk in front of me a commemorative handmade ceramic coaster emblazoned with the medals I earned for my service in Vietnam. It was made by a fellow Vietnam Vet and given to me as a gift. For me it also symbolizes all those who fought and served in Vietnam but never made it home. They are representative of countless millions of others who, since the Revolutionary War, have fought and died in defense of our freedoms.
Today is Memorial Day. Please don’t confuse it with Veteran’s Day. On Veteran’s Day we honor all those who have ever served in the Armed Forces. But Memorial Day is specifically intended to remember and honor those who not only served, but who also died in the service to their country. Today is their day.
Please take some time today to honor those who have served and died so that you and I and all of our loved ones can enjoy the great freedoms we have. If you love your freedom, thank a veteran – especially those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 