Don't Forget Who Paid the Price

Good morning BFB family and friends,

Every year, Memorial Day invites us to pause and remember. In the middle of cookouts, travel plans, family gatherings, and long weekends, this day calls us to remember something deeper: freedom has always come with a cost.

Today, all across this nation, flags will wave over gravesites. Families will remember loved ones who never made it home. Communities will pause to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to this country.

No, this nation is not perfect. In many ways, we are still striving to become a more true and united United States. Yet, I remain deeply grateful for the freedoms we do enjoy and continue to fight for today. Those freedoms did not come cheaply. They came at the expense of brave men and women who gave what President Lincoln called “the last full measure of devotion.”

And so today, we remember. Today, I remember Daniel Douville, a member of the Beulah family who gave his life in Afghanistan in service to this nation. We honor his sacrifice, his courage, and his commitment. And we also remember his family. We pray for them as they continue to navigate life in the years since his passing. Memorial Day is not only about those who died; it is also about those who continue living while carrying both the pride and the pain of that sacrifice.

And while Memorial Day is a national holiday, it also carries spiritual weight for believers because sacrifice sits at the center of our faith. Jesus said in The Gospel of John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

That verse reminds us that the greatest expressions of love are often costly. The freedoms we enjoy were purchased through sacrifice, and the freedom we enjoy in Christ was purchased through sacrifice too. That is why Memorial Day should challenge us beyond simple remembrance. It should push us toward gratitude and responsibility.

We live in a culture that enjoys benefits but often forgets sacrifice: 
We enjoy comfort, but we often resist the commitment it requires. If not commitment, we celebrate victory but do not always honor the struggle that produced it. I believe Memorial Day confronts that tendency.

Today should remind us that somebody stood watch while we slept peacefully in our homes. It should remind us that someone endured hardship so we could live safely in our neighborhoods. It should remind us that somebody paid a price they would never personally benefit from so future generations could have an opportunity.

And spiritually, many of us are standing today because somebody sacrificed for us too. Moms and dads prayed for us. Churches and small groups fasted for us. Someone left their families just to sit with us when we needed their ministry of presence and encouragement. Pastors and leaders carried burdens quietly so we could walk into blessings openly. There were church members who refused to give up on us and were there for us in our valley experiences. We should never become so focused on where we are going that we forget who helped get us there.

The best way to honor sacrifice is to live faithfully and with purpose:
Don’t waste what somebody else died protecting. Don’t waste what Jesus died providing. Don’t waste the grace, opportunity, and calling God has placed on your life. Our remembrance should produce responsibility. And as believers, we do not merely look backward in sorrow. We should look forward with purpose.

On this and all Memorial Days: WE REMEMBER! We remember the fallen, and we honor their sacrifice. And we recommit ourselves to living lives worthy of the grace and freedom we have received. Before the celebrations begin, take a moment to pause and thank God for sacrifice, for service, for freedom, and for Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice still changes lives today.

May we never forget who paid the price.

Your Pastor and His Servant
FLC