11/11/15 Thank You for Your Service

In the United States, November 11th is Veteran’s Day, a holiday set aside to honor the men and women who have served our country so valiantly in wars, political actions, and skirmishes both at home and abroad. They’ve done so in the original Revolutionary War in which the point of the battle was to secure freedom from British rule and to establish ourselves as an independent nation. The Union and Confederate soldiers fought each other on our own land to free the country of the sinful grip of slavery. Our military fought the Spanish/American War to secure land that became our southern territory. And our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard have continued to fight for us to maintain our freedoms and to assist in freedom from other tyrannical rulers in World War I, the Korean War, World War II, the Viet Nam Conflict, The Gulf War, the Iraq War, and currently in Afghanistan and in many other conflicts around the world. American servicemen and women are there to handle business, have our back, and do the doggone thing. We are thankful for their service.

I am proud to be an American, and I come from a family of veterans. My father, Vincent Norris,  was in the Army and served in World War II. My brother, Nicholas Norris, was a career Marine who served several tours in Viet Nam. My nephew, Eric Nelson, was an Army soldier who served in the Gulf War. Even my sister, Saundra Nelson, was a Marine. This close familial connection to the military has made me personally grateful for the privileges I enjoy as a citizen of my great nation. The message is not lost on me. Because of all who have served, I am free to do so much.

After all, it’s all about freedom, isn’t it? But as we stop on Veteran’s Day to thank the human members of the military, let’s also remember our ultimate Veteran who also lost His life so we might be free. Hebrews 7:27 reports that He is a High Priest “who does not need daily… to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself” (NKJ). Other verses that prove this Veteran’s war record include the following:

• For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJ)
• Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 1 Corinthians 15:22 (NLT)
• And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 (NKJ)

Yes, every day is Veteran’s Day when we remember our ultimate Freedom Fighter, Jesus Christ. He has freed us not just from the tyranny of human despots, but also from the eternal grip of sin and from the wrath of God. Shall we say it together? Jesus, thank You for Your service.

#HeartfortheWord

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©2013, 2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail atwww.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

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