Greater Love

Read John 8:31-38

Hi there. The 25th of April is ANZAC Day – a day in which Australians and New Zealanders particularly remember the many men and women who served and died in wars that our

country has participated in. Near to where I live is the Burleigh Heads Memorial dedicated to those who have fallen during war. These stone memorials have rosemary bushes planted around them, dedicated to all prisoners of war.

Recently David and I drove through the NSW town of Gilgandra where several relatives of mine lived on farms for a few generations. It was in Gilgandra that the famous Coo-ee March

started on 10th October 1915 with 25 men who walked from Gil through many country towns calling out “Coo-ee! Come and join us!” A month later they arrived in Sydney, having walked 515 kilometres and recruiting 263 men to serve in World War One.

In May 2014 my parents, my sister, David and I made a pilgrimage to Villlers-Bretonneux in France where my mother’s uncle George Maltby died in WWI. His brother Frank had died earlier at Gallipoli. Press here to see the video of the family's visit in 2014.

At the Burleigh Heads Memorial a plaque reads, “We remember the price they paid for our freedom”. It is on ANZAC Day that we remember the sacrifice of many men and women who died to keep their nation free.

In the Bible we are reminded that Jesus Christ laid down his life for our spiritual freedom. Paul has written, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1 NIV). Jesus said of Himself, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36 NIV). What are freed from? First and foremost, it is the penalty of sin. Christ paid the price for the penalty of our sins. We can also be st free from the things that burden us. Through Christ’s power, we can overcome the issues that trip us up such as fear, hate, jealousy, greed, unforgiveness. We are enslaved by so much muck, and yet Christ has set us free. That was the mission of Christ - to set us prisoners free.

As you travel, pay a visit to the local memorial built to honour those who served to keep our country free. Give thanks to God for our nation’s freedom, and thank God for His Son who laid down His life for our spiritual freedom. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends” (John 15:13 NIV).

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank you for the men and women who served and who are still serving our country to keep us free. Help me to never forget. Thank you also for Jesus who died for our spiritual freedom. O God, preserve us who travel; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.