A Prayer of Remembering and Giving Thanks

 REMEMBERING

So we saw the queen for the first time wearing a mask in Westminster Abbey at a special remembrance service at the tomb of the unknown soldier.  Then the news on Sunday brought us pictures of her family members participating in the very “scaled down” service of remembrance at the Cenotaph in London's Whitehall.

Here in New Westminster in front of our city hall there is a lovely war memorial – a cenotaph – a monument to those who are buried elsewhere commemorating their service and the giving of their lives in war.   Currently in our health region we have enhanced restrictions for the next 2 weeks due to high case numbers of COVID-19.  There will be no Remembrance Day service at the cenotaph this year but Evelyn and I have still planned at some time during the day to go down and at least put our poppies on the cenotaph.  It’s a small gesture but it says that we remember and we appreciate. 

As we remember service men and women who served our nation in times of war and trouble, it’s good also to be mindful of words from the Bible that describe God's help in our time of need.  Many veterans in fox holes on the frontlines came to know how important it was that God was with them in ways that never would have been evident had they been safe at home.

The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.  Exodus 15:2 NIV

Soldiers fought so that you and I could have peace and freedom in our country.  Jesus suffered and died so that we could have peace and freedom from the power of sin.  Jesus is also preparing a place for us in His Father’s House in Heaven.  God wants us to know the value He places on relationship with each one of us.  Jesus paid the ultimate price so you and I could have a purposeful life in the place where we live today, and eternal life with Him in the place He has gone to prepare for us.  Today we remember and give thanks.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for those who have served the cause of freedom and justice in so many wars in so many lands over so many years.  We hear names read or read them for ourselves on war memorials and are so grateful that these ordinary folks – many of them young men and women – were willing to do whatever it took to protect us and our freedoms.

And we know that all of that is just a small example of the great love You showed for us, Lord Jesus,

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  Romans 5:6-8

Thank You for coming at just the right time and doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.  Thank you for caring for us long before we cared for you.  Thank you for offering up You own goodness on our behalf while we were still filled with the ugliness of sin and death.

As the lyrics of the old Andre Crouch song remind us:  I don't know why Jesus loved me.  I don't know why He cared.  I don't know why He sacrificed His life. Oh, but I'm glad, so glad He did

Help us today, Loving God, to remember with gratitude and live in loving response.  As Saint Paul so clearly instructed us:

I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.  Romans 12:1

(change pronouns and pray this)

Today we want to ….

Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.  Hebrews 12:1b-3

Have a wonderful day as You remember those near and dear to you who have served in the armed forces and as you reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus.