On Memorial Day, we pause to remember the men and women who laid down their lives for our freedom. We pause to honor the fallen and to reflect on the price of liberty. We pause, not because of sentimentality, but because of gratitude—and because God Himself calls His people to remember.
We are a forgetful people. Throughout the Bible, this is why God tells His people to set up memorials, to tell the next generation of His mighty acts. Memorials matter. Remembrance matters. And in times like these—when we are surrounded by cultural confusion, moral drift, and spiritual apathy—it’s a powerful reminder to live sacrificially not only for our country but, even more importantly, for the Gospel of Christ.
Far too often, the Western church has bowed to the idol of comfort. We admire sacrifice from a distance but shrink from it in our own lives. But Jesus did not call us to a life of ease—He called us to take up our cross and follow Him. This Memorial Day, as we remember those who gave their lives for our nation, may God stir His Church to true revival—a return to courageous, self-denying faith that lives not for this world, but for the glory of Christ and the advancement of His Kingdom.
Sacrifice: At the Heart of the Gospel
Sacrifice lies at the very core of the Gospel—yet it stands in stark opposition to the values of our culture. We live in a society that idolizes self-fulfillment and avoids discomfort at all costs. Tragically, this mindset has seeped into the Western Church. Perhaps this is why, in a recent study, only 1 percent of pastors said their churches were “very effective” at reaching unchurched people!
Too often, we want to worship God on Sunday but live for ourselves the rest of the week. We desire a convenient Christianity, a cross-less gospel, a faith that fits neatly into our comfortable lifestyles. But Jesus calls us to something far greater—radical, costly discipleship. And this is why I pray daily for the American Church to wake up before it’s too late.
From beginning to end, the Gospel is a story of sacrifice. Jesus Christ—God in the flesh—offered the final, perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice to take away the sins of the world. Scripture proclaims:
-“Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).
-“He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:7-8).
-“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
-"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:3).
This is the Gospel. And this is the pattern of true Christian living.
Salvation Is Free—but it’s Not Cheap
Sadly, we are living in a time of spiritual amnesia. We have forgotten the cost of our freedom, not just as Americans, but as Christians.
Jesus paid the full price for our salvation. He died our death. He bore our shame. He drank the cup of wrath to the dregs. And when He rose from the grave, He offered eternal life to all who would believe in Him.
But hear me well: The One who gave His life for us now calls us to give our lives for Him.
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). He didn’t say “take up your dreams” or “take up your comfort.” He said, “Take up your cross”—a symbol of pain, surrender, and death.
True sacrifice is rooted in love and obedience to God. It is not about what we can gain but what we can give. In a culture that measures success by what we accumulate, Christ calls us to lay it all down. The Gospel challenges us to redefine our priorities and invest in eternal treasures rather than temporary pleasures.
I have met believers who have lost everything for the sake of Christ—their families, their homes, their freedom. And yet, they count it all joy. Why? Because they know what many in the West have forgotten: Following Jesus costs everything—but He is worth it all.
A Living Sacrifice
In Romans 12:1, Paul writes, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
This is the calling of every believer—not just to admire the cross, but to carry it; not merely to sing about Jesus on Sunday, but to follow Him daily, no matter the cost.
So let me ask you, as I often ask myself: Are you offering your life as a living sacrifice? Is your time on the altar? Your finances? Your career? Your relationships? Your future?
The next generation won’t inherit the Gospel by osmosis. It won’t pass quietly to your neighbors without intentional effort. It must be proclaimed boldly, lived out sacrificially, and shared openly.
Can you imagine if every Christian in your community was able to say, like the apostle Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20)? Can you imagine if every believer was unashamed of the Gospel, ready to share the reason for their hope in Christ? Imagine the impact!
This is not something we can do in our own strength. Only the Holy Spirit can empower us to live this way—set apart, surrendered, and faithful. By His grace, we can walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us (Ephesians 5:2).
Praying for Revival
In these days, I find myself praying more earnestly—praying for my family, for the Church, and for this nation that I love. And I know I’m not alone. Many of you feel the same burden, that same longing to see the people of God return to Him.
If that’s the burden of your heart, I want to invite you to pray along with us through AWAKE America. It’s a movement of hearts crying out for revival in our nation once again. And it begins, as all true revivals do, on our knees in prayer. To learn more or to join us in prayer, just visit AWAKEAmerica.com.
May we be the generation who remembers the mercy of God. May we be the generation who lays down our lives for the sake of the Gospel. And may the Lord find us faithful—faithful to remember, faithful to surrender, and faithful to sacrifice.
Photo Credit: ©John Silliman/Unsplash
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