What Will Your Memorial Be?
In Honor Of Memorial Day And In Remembrance
Of Those Who Gave It All That We May Know Freedom
Thank You!
Memorial Day is all about remembering those who died in an effort to give us the priceless gift of freedom. As Christians we should honor a Memorial Day everyday. Not for our brave veterans but for our Savior who laid down everything that we may know the greatest freedom of all – freedom from sin. Because of Jesus’s sacrifice, we can now be free from the chains of sin and be free to live with God even after this life is over. But freedom is not free. Just as our veterans proudly gave their lives for our freedom in America, Jesus gave up everything for us to free us from sin. But Jesus didn’t leave us with a statue, or a plaque, or a wall built in His honor. Jesus left the greatest memorial for us – the cross. The cross is not just a tree but it is a symbol of His sacrifice, His love, mercy, it is one of hope, and one of true freedom. The question is what will our memorial be? Will we be known for our faithfulness to God or will we be known only as an earthly success to men. If God took you away from this earth right now what would everyone remember you for? Will you inspire others to look to God or will you only strike determination in the hearts of those who look upon your tombstone to succeed according to earthly measures.
Matthew 26:6-13 (NIV) “While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
In Matthew 26:6-13 Jesus was anointed by a woman with very expensive perfume. She was immediately reprimanded by the disciples for doing so but Jesus praised her. Because of her sacrifice, Jesus said the woman’s deed will be known wherever the gospel is preached. This was the woman’s memorial. In 2018 she is still known for her sacrifice in an effort to praise her Lord.
Our faithfulness to God can last forever as it inspires others to look to God but our earthly success only last a lifetime and it ends there. Don’t make that lifetime yours. I am not saying sell all your possessions, move to a third world country, and try to be the next Billy Graham. God has given us all a special gift. You are not expected to change the world. We are expected to try to make an impact on others around us though. We can’t just go through life letting others take a stand and we just keep quiet about our faith. Do others around you know that you are a Christian? Make it known that you are a Child of God. Don’t be ashamed of your spiritual identity. So…
What Will Your Memorial Be?
I owe the credit to this devotion to my beloved pastor Bro. Pike Smith. A true mark of a great pastor is that one has the ability to empower others to impact the world!
Dream Small By Josh Wilson
Thank you,
Tiffany McGinnis
