From the Pastor’s Desk by Carl Conrad
Greater Love
Today is Veterans Day, and I wanted to do something a little different. I’ve had family members and friends who served, and today is a day to honor them.
Why?
When our veterans were deployed, they knew they might not come home. They were willing to die for people they would never meet, including people who might not agree with them. Some of those people vote differently than they do, or live in ways we might disagree with. But they sacrificed anyway, because freedom for human flourishing is worth it.
A Greater Love
I love what Jesus said in John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Our freedoms matter, including the freedom to live a life of human flourishing. But there is a freedom even greater than that, and a love even greater than theirs. Jesus laid down his life for us so that we could be free indeed, free from sin and death.
Please read this: Jesus did not die so that we could do whatever we want and live for ourselves. He died so that we would be free to love God and serve one another.
Free Indeed
One of my favorite CityAlight songs is “It Was Finished Upon the Cross.” Death was once my great opponent
Fear once had a hold on me
But the Son who died to save us
Rose that we would be free indeed!
Free from every plan of darkness
Free to live and free to love
Death is dead and Christ is risen!
It was finished upon that cross
It Was Finished Upon the Cross - Spotify Song Link
What Freedom Means
Because of our veterans, we have the freedom to live a relatively free life here in the US. But Jesus, because of Jesus, we will live forever with him. That freedom isn’t only for the future, either. Right now it means:
* We can live to serve others in the church.
* We can live to love others and share the gospel with them.
* We can live to be like Christ.
Take time this week, not just to be grateful for the friends and family who have served, but let’s also rest in the greater freedom Christ has won.