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I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)

Today we observe Memorial Day, an American holiday that honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. We are forever grateful for their sacrifice. They paid the ultimate price for our freedom. We thank them and their families for their tremendous sacrifice.

Fight the Good Fight

Christ also paid the ultimate price by laying down His life so we can have freedom. Now it is our turn to sacrifice. The key to our sacrifice is found in Matthew 16:24 (NIV):

Then Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

We must deny ourselves. It is the death of one’s “self”. Death to “self” so we can completely submit to Jesus. It is essential that we submit our hopes, dreams, and desires to His will. We must fight the good fight of resisting the temptations of this world! As widows, we might feel like we have no more fight in us. Every fiber of our being may be crying out, I just want to rest! Please, I want someone to take care of me. Why does this have to be so hard? I need help!

Death as we know, is incredibly hard. It is hard when we are talking about the death of our loved one and it’s hard when dealing with the death of our “self”. The battle is oh, so real. Painstaking. Tedious. Strenuous. Never-ending. But we must keep fighting! We are not just fighting for ourselves, we are fighting for God’s Kingdom. God’s kingdom advances and grows as we submit to God’s will. Too often, we underestimate the importance of what we are fighting for.

Finishing the Race

The advancement of God’s Kingdom is what we fight for. Each of us created to do our part. A race set before each of us that we are compelled to complete. In order to finish, we must stay diligent and focused on accomplishing God’s purposes. Our challenge is to stay submitted to His will throughout the race. Like Paul, our focus is crucial to our success!

Paul tells us in Acts 20:24 (NIV)

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Keeping the Faith

So how do we keep going?

Remembering who we our fighting and living for – God’s kingdom.

Focusing on our purpose – to testify to the good news of God’s grace.

Doing what is required – to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus.

Remembering how to finish the race – stay submitted to God’s will.

Having faith that we are never fighting alone. God is with us always!

And resting in knowing that God will complete His work in us.

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

Dear Heavenly Father, today we thank You for all of those who have laid down their lives for us. May You continue to comfort and guide their loved ones. May You prompt us to show them their sacrifice is not forgotten. And Father, may You continue to work in us for Your Glory. Help us to stay submitted to Your will for Your purposes. Allow us the privilege of testifying about Your goodness and Your Grace. We thank You that we know Your kingdom will come and one day every knee will bow. Thank You for Your Son, in His holy name we pray. Amen.