“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  -John 15:13 [NLT]

Thoughts For Veterans Day…by Pastor Nathan Nass, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Tulsa OK

Our world loves to talk about love. Jesus did too! Here’s how Jesus defined love: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13] To Jesus, the greatest act of love is to lay down your love for others. If that’s the greatest love, then Jesus most certainly loves us! Jesus doesn’t just love you with words. He loves you with his actions. He loves you so much that he laid down his life for you.

That kind of love is hard to find in our world today. But it’s there. There are still people who are willing to lay down their lives for others, including the men and women who serve or have served in our country’s armed forces. As we live our daily lives in peace and safety, there are people risking their own lives in dangerous and difficult situations around the world. That’s why our country takes time today to celebrate Veterans Day. In a special way like Jesus, veterans show what it’s like to sacrifice for those you love.

But what too often happens to our veterans? We forget about them. Isn’t that the sad truth? We who live surrounded by prosperity forget about those who have sacrificed, suffered, or even died to allow us to live the way we do. How quickly we forget! Isn’t that true for Jesus too? How quickly and easily we forget what our Savior has done to give us peace, forgiveness, and life. It’s too easy to enjoy all the blessings without ever acknowledging the sacrifice.

So we thank our veterans for their sacrifice. May we in Christian love look to honor, comfort, and serve those who have faithfully served us. And as we thank our veterans for their service, may we be reminded to thank Jesus for offering the ultimate sacrifice. In spite of our sins, in spite of our selfishness, in spite of our forgetfulness, Jesus died for us. Because this is what love is all about, right?

May Jesus bless and keep all those who have served our country, AMEN.