A time to express gratitude for the past and look to the future
By Steve Nailor
I was on a walk one day and stopped at the Memorial to the Vietnam Veterans in our town. At the entrance was this sign; “We veterans are grateful to these benefactors and their heartfelt support which brings peace, honor, and healing to every veteran through the building of this memorial. God bless you all.” The memorial includes the names of the men and women from the Rockford area who sacrificed their lives for me.
As I walked on, I thought about John 11:25-26. Jesus says to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live even though they die. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
He asked Martha, “Do you believe this?”
Perhaps we need to ask, “Do we believe this?”
Do we think about the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us?
Do we believe in the Resurrection?
Do we share that faith with others?
We are called to:
- Engage in daily Bible study and prayer.
- Bear witness to Christ in all personal contacts through words and actions.
- Engage in Christian service.
This is a special time of the year to remember the fallen men and women. It is also a time for us to make a difference in our communities.
I think of Luke 10:27, where a law expert challenged Jesus with the question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus answered: “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”
The expert answered: “Love your Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus said: “You have answered correctly.”
Let us remember the past and look forward to the future that Jesus promises. “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
Not only do we believe this, we are called to share it with others.
Steve Nailor, president
National Association of Conference Presidents of UM Men