John 15:13 (NIV) Greater love
has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Ever since reading J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings in college, I have
picked it up again every five to ten years or so. It is on my list of top five
favorite books. I read something in the last chapter yesterday that caught my
attention and gave me something to think about. The main character, Frodo (an
“insignificant hobbit”), along with his closest friend Sam, has been back in
his homeland for a short while after having been away doing great and perilous deeds
which, in effect, saved their world of Middle Earth from great evil and ruin.
Wars had been fought, many lives had been lost, and great deeds of courage had
been done. But the time came for Frodo to leave Middle Earth, much to the grief
of Sam. Through his tears Sam expresses how he had hoped Frodo would enjoy the
Shire – their homeland – for many years. It is Frodo’s response that struck me:
“So I thought too, once. But I
have been too deeply hurt, Sam. I tried to save the Shire, and it has been
saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger:
someone has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them.”
Tolkien had personally experienced
the horrors of war in the trenches in Europe in World War I. He understood all
too well the sacrifice soldiers make for those they leave behind. He saw death
firsthand and knew that some gave up their homes, families, jobs, communities,
friends, and much more when they went to war. They went because those things
were in danger. They sacrificed comfort, safety and – in many cases – their own
lives because what they loved and cared about was in danger. Such is the
calling of the soldier. Our own nation has been served faithfully by hundreds
of thousands who understood and made this sacrifice – losing that which they
left behind so others could keep them. Veterans Day is a day to honor,
recognize, and give thanks for those who have served our nation. May the Lord
bless them with His love and grace.
Jesus, in teaching His disciples
that God’s will for them is to love one another, described the greatness of a
life sacrificed for another person. He said there was no higher form of love. And
Jesus did much more than talk about love. That in itself is a great example to
us. It is easy just to talk about love. But true love always costs us something
as we place the needs of another at a higher level than our own. Jesus placed
our need for forgiveness of sin above His remaining at the Father’s side. He
knew we lacked the righteousness that the Father requires for us to be in
fellowship with Him, so He took upon Himself human flesh and lived His life
without any sin. And in His death on the cross His righteousness became a gift
to men. You could say that Jesus gave up the “comforts” of heaven, if you will,
so that others may have them and keep them for all eternity. We are those
“others”, and now we live to glorify Him and walk in His love. His grace has
done it all, and His work for us is glorious.
Philippians 2:1-8 (NIV) 1 If you have any encouragement from being
united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the
Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make
my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit
and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or
vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but
also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should
be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in
very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in
appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even
death on a cross!
PRAYER: Father, I praise you for the humility and
grace of your Son, Jesus. It amazes me that I am the object of His love. I
glorify you for the perfections and wonders of your plan, and for your gift of
faith that I might be redeemed from my sin and have the hope of eternity with
you. Have mercy upon our veterans and their families. Comfort them in sorrow.
Make your love known to them. Give them peace. Meet their needs according to
your grace. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
Jesus
Christ is Lord!
Scott
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