MONDAY, MAY 30
14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. 15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.
Luke 22:14-15 (NLT)
WE REMEMBER
Memorial Day, perhaps more than any other holiday, was born of human necessity. Abraham Lincoln pondered these thoughts in the late fall of 1863. His darkest fear was that he might well be the last president of the United States, a nation embroiled in the self-destruction of what he described as “a great civil war..testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure.” He began his remarks with those words as he stood on the battlefield near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19th of that year.
The minute’s speech that became known as Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address turned into what might be called the first observance of Memorial Day. Lincoln’s purpose that day was to dedicate a portion of the battlefield as a cemetery for the thousands of men, both living and dead, who consecrated that soil in the sacrifice of battle. Said Abraham Lincoln: “That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause which they gave the last full measure of devotion…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom…” (Sermon Central)
The Passover meal is a time to remember the cause for which Jesus came and died and a time to increase our devotion to that cause. Luke 22 records that Jesus told His disciples to observe the Passover “in remembrance of me.” Jesus gave a command to His disciples to “do this” continually which calls for us to celebrate communion frequently. Therefore, lest we forget the significance of what Jesus has done for us and what the Lord’s Supper service means to us, we need to spend some time observing and looking into the wonder of this great event.
Reflection
How we live as American Citizens is a reflection of how we feel about the sacrifice men and women have made to guarantee our freedom. How we live as Christians is a reflection of how we feel about the sacrifice Jesus made for our spiritual freedom. What can you do today to show gratitude for your political and spiritual freedom?
Praise/Prayer
Thank God for those who paid the ultimate price for our political freedom. Thank God for Jesus’ death on the cross to purchase our spiritual freedom.
