Memorial Day is a day to remember those men and women who paid the ultimate price for freedom. It’s a day of remembering the cost of freedom.

My husband, Keith, served in the United States Air Force for 22 years. We lived in the Philippines, Italy, the East Coast, the West Coast, and in the MidWest during his service. This weekend, he is giving the devotion below in our church services at Calvary Chapel Beaumont.

In gratitude, may you celebrate the freedom we enjoy in America.

---

Jesus told His disciples in John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (ESV)

This weekend is the unofficial start of summer, but Monday is the day we reflect on those who preserved our liberty and freedom by making the ultimate sacrifice.  Over 645,000 have fallen since World War I.

We don’t know them all, but we owe them all. 

And let’s not forget their families.

They came from all walks of life.  They were called to be part of something bigger than themselves. 

They put on the uniform; they answered the call knowing the risks; the risks were great, but the cause was greater.

Those who made the ultimate sacrifice didn’t lose one life—they lost two.  The life they would have had while serving their country and the life they would have had after leaving the military.  

Those who made the ultimate sacrifice didn’t lose one life—they lost two.

Ronald Reagan said “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world.”

But our military men and women don’t have that problem.

In Lee Greenwood’s famous song he sings: “Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God Bless the USA.”  

God Bless Our Land

Father, we stand before You today to thank You for all that we enjoy—the freedom, the privileges, and our ability to worship You. We thank You for those who have gone before us and paid the ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy our freedoms. We pray for those who are in the military today and ask that You keep them safe. We pray for the families and friends who have lost loved ones in those situations.  

Most of all we thank You for Jesus who paid the ultimate sacrifice by laying down His life for our sins so that we can know your love and look forward to spending eternity with You.  Amen.