This week’s devotions are based on Week 2: Grateful Hearts GROW Together (WATCH HERE)
John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
Today, we pause to remember and give thanks for the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces. Veterans Day is an opportunity to recognize those who were willing to put aside personal comfort, leave familiar surroundings, endure hardships, and accept great sacrifices for the sake of something bigger than themselves. Many served far from home, missed important family moments, faced difficult circumstances, and carried responsibilities that most of us will never fully understand. Their willingness to serve reminds us that some things are worth sacrificing for.
There is something important about living for something bigger than ourselves. Our natural tendency is to look inward. We think about our schedules, our comfort, our preferences, and what we want out of life. But Jesus calls us to a different way of living. In John 15, he tells his disciples, “Love each other as I have loved you.” Then he describes the greatest expression of love: laying down one’s life for another. Jesus wasn’t simply giving his disciples a noble example to follow. He was preparing them for what he himself was about to do.
The greatest act of service in history took place at the cross. Jesus willingly gave his life, not for people who deserved it, but for sinners who needed rescuing. He didn’t come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. His sacrifice wasn’t motivated by duty alone, but by his extraordinary love for us. Through his death and resurrection, we have forgiveness, life, and the assurance that we belong to him forever.
As we think about growing together at Crosspoint, this is an important reminder. The church doesn’t grow simply because people show up. It grows as people grow in God’s Word, love one another, serve one another, encourage one another, and look beyond themselves to those who need to hear about Jesus. Sometimes that means giving up time, sharing our resources, welcoming someone new, or stepping into a responsibility that isn’t necessarily convenient.
Today, thank a veteran for their service. Remember their sacrifices with gratitude. And as you do, remember the Savior who made the ultimate sacrifice for you. Then look for an opportunity to reflect his love by serving someone else. We grow together when we stop asking only what we can receive and begin looking for ways to give.
We honor those who have served us, and we follow the Savior who gave everything for us.
Reflect: How does remembering the sacrifices of our veterans help you appreciate the importance of serving something bigger than yourself? What is one way you can put someone else’s needs ahead of your own this week as an expression of Christ’s love?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the men and women who have served our country and sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy. Bless our veterans, comfort those who carry difficult memories, and encourage their families. Above all, thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly gave his life to rescue us from sin and death. His love is greater than we can comprehend. Forgive us when we become focused on ourselves and our own comfort. Give us hearts that reflect the love of Christ. Help us see the needs of others, willingly serve those around us, and work together to share the good news of your grace. May our lives be a reflection of the love we have first received from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.