“A  SACRIFICE  REMEMBERED”

December 16, 1944, sixty four years ago,  the great encounter of  World War two started – “The Battle of the Bulge.”  Over twenty thousand American solders were captured, and nineteen thousand were killed.  Germany’s loss included 100,000 men who were either killed, wounded, or captured.  This was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the  Second World War.  Never in the history of mankind have so many owed so much to so few.

 

Today, “Veteran’s Day, 2008;” the inscription in honor of the US 101^st Airborne reads: “Seldom has so  much American blood been shed in the course of a single action.” O Lord, help us to remember.  Those are fitting and well-deserved tributes to the courageous men and women who sacrificed so much for their country.

 

We use the words “freedom, peace” in some very casual and careless ways. We also take the work and  disciple of freedom and peace way too lightly.  Freedom is a lot more than a word.  It is something to be practiced, worked at, defended fiercely even when we are not at war.  Same thing with peace. It is something to be lived, to be practiced, to be taught and encouraged.

 

A wall in Branson, Missouri bears the names of over 400,000 US soldiers who died in World War two.  Each name points beyond itself to the larger cause for which they died. 

 

As we remember those who died,  and think about the sacrifice they made, “We Must Not, We Can Not Help But Think About Our Lord Jesus,”  who gave His life our ransom fully paid.  Hebrews 11 lists a number of heroes who lived and died courageously “by faith.”  Near the end of the chapter, the list changes from the names of 13 individuals to groups of believers;  “who through faith subdued kingdoms,”  whose experience ranged from miraculous deliverance to torture and death because they refused to compromise their faith in God.

 

“Almighty God, we give Thee thanks for all blessed memories and all enduring hopes; for the ties that bind us to the unseen world; for the heroic dead;  for all thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of their country. Unite us O God, people of these United States, in holy purpose to defend freedom and brotherhood for which they lived and died.  Kindle in the hearts of all men, the true love of peace; protect those who service men and women now absent from us.  Defend them in all dangers of soul and body;  Amen.

 

In His Service,

Roy