So, today, I am thankful for those who have gone on before: soldiers and martyrs. It is because of the soldier's sacrifices that we have freedoms today. Some have given their time and their safety to defend us... some have given so much more.
Martyrs... while they have not purchased our freedom. But they remind us that our lives are not our own. They remind us to look to Christ, to trust in Him alone. They point us to Him.
Sacrifice is important. Soldiers demonstrate this. Martyrs demonstrate this. Christ demonstrated the ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross. We should never take this for granted.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
~ John 15:13
"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."
~ Hebrews 11:33-40
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"
~ Hebrews 12:1
In Christ alone,
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