{"id":3223,"date":"2017-05-28T13:00:51","date_gmt":"2017-05-28T18:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hungryformore.org\/?p=3223"},"modified":"2017-05-28T13:00:51","modified_gmt":"2017-05-28T18:00:51","slug":"a-very-important-memorial-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hungryformore.org\/a-very-important-memorial-day\/","title":{"rendered":"A Very Important Memorial Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

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During the twenty years that we lived overseas, I often lost track of upcoming American holidays. Before wide-spread internet connection, I have to admit that the last Monday of May was usually spent with end of the year parties and summer plans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Yet, I vividly remember my first Memorial Day<\/span> weekend back in the states in 2007. As our church sang patriotic songs and remembered those who had died for our freedom, I was moved to tears and ashamed that I had so seldom celebrated this national holiday.<\/span><\/p>\n

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First called \u201cDecoration Day\u201d, the Memorial Day-type observance began as a day to decorate the graves of fallen Civil War heroes.\u00a0 Although placing flowers on the tombs began as early as the first year of the Civil War, it wouldn\u2019t be until over 100 years later that the federal government would set aside a specific day to observe the holiday.<\/span><\/p>\n

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As Christians, today should be a very special day for each of us. Of course, we must remember those who have given themselves for our country\u2019s freedom and thank the families of those who are remembering their loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

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But, we have another death to remember. That of our own.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Our old self died when He died (Romans 6:6). <\/span><\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s take some time today to remember this glorious fact and visit our own gravesite.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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When God looks at who you were before Christ, He sees a dead man<\/strong> – complete with coffin and tombstone. Your body of sin has be done away with, so that you no longer have to be at sin\u2019s beck and call (Romans 6:7).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Remembering our old man doesn\u2019t create any fond memories within us. That was one life that we can rejoice with its passing. When we were made to die to that old way of life, we were then released to enter into a whole different life that was already blameless and free: the very same Life of Christ<\/span> (Romans 7:4). <\/span><\/p>\n

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With our gravesite full<\/strong>, we have been released<\/strong> from the rules and regulations of offending God. Christ can’t offend Him – so neither can we. Instead, we can serve God on the other side of the grave – in newness of Spirit – not the tit for tat of the Law-regulated living (Romans 7:6).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Spend a moment at your own burial plot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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