We will remember them…
ANZAC day has just passed, now for some of us it might be just another public holiday that we get each year or it’s the week where we have lots of ANZAC biscuits. But for others, and for over 100 years now, we stop on this day to remember the sacrifice that people made for our freedom. In WWI and WWII and many other conflicts since then, men and women have left the comforts of their home, fought, and died so we can live in a free country today.
Our freedom has had a heavy cost to previous generations. I often think what our world or country would be like today if people didn’t fight for our freedom. Would we be free to meet and study the bible together? Would we be allowed to own a bible? Would it be illegal to share the gospel? I know many Christians around the world face this reality, they don’t live in a country with such freedom. So, it’s important and good to remember the sacrifices made by those so we can live in a free country today.
As we read on Sunday from Philippians Ch 2:5-8, I was reminded of the ultimate sacrifice and price that Jesus paid for our freedom:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something
to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Jesus left the comforts of heaven when He came humbly as a human. Jesus got thirsty, He worked and became tired, He faced pain and suffering and did not consider equality with God as something to be used to His own advantage. Ultimately Jesus died on the cross, Why? Because He loved us and wanted to free us from the bondage of sin.
Do you ever stop and think about your position before God prior to Jesus saving you? That we were dead in our sins and trespasses. That we were deserving to be judged and face the wrath of God. That we were slaves to our sin and living without a hope.
However, through the love of Jesus, we have been set free. We’re no longer under the judgement of God. Jesus has faced the wrath of God for us. We’re no longer slaves to sin and death, but we have freedom in Christ. I often forget my previous state before Jesus saved me, but when I do remember it brings me to give great thanks and praise to Jesus for the sacrifice He made. Because our freedom from sin had a heavy cost that Jesus paid.
So, as our nation stops to remember those who have died and serve today for our freedom, lets pray that New Zealand would also remember Jesus who has given us a far greater freedom.
Grace and peace,
Dave
eNews - 26th April 2024