Freedom is never free. Someone always pays for it. We wake up in this country and we can go to church, say what we believe, raise our kids the way we want, and worship openly. None of that just appeared out of thin air. Behind every one of those freedoms are people who left their families, stepped into danger, and never came home. The least we can do is remember that.

Memorial Day is not mainly about cookouts and long weekends. For some families, it is not a holiday at all. It is an empty chair at the table. It is a folded flag on a shelf. It is old photographs. It is a name on a wall. Sacrifice is always personal to somebody. And people of character stop long enough to recognize the weight of what was given so they could live freely.

Here is what makes the Gospel so staggering. Soldiers give their lives so others can be free physically. Jesus gave His life so we could be free eternally. And while salvation is freely offered to you, it was not cheap to purchase. Our forgiveness cost Jesus His life. Our peace cost Jesus His suffering. Our freedom from sin cost Jesus the cross. You did not earn it. You cannot repay it. But you can live as if you know what it cost.

Just a thought,

PSS