This weekend, millions of Americans are celebrating the long holiday weekend. However, many people have forgotten the true reason we celebrate Memorial Day. The holiday is about a lot more than kicking off summer and going on vacation with family.
The holiday became an official remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives for our great nation in 1971. It is a time we remember the sacrifice of brave men and women who put the safety of others before themselves.
When you think about it, that’s what really makes America great, putting others first, instead of our selfish wants and pursuing earthly greatness. We can see the biblical truths that are embedded in Memorial Day:
- Putting others first
- Humility
- The price of love
- Service
It’s funny how America remembers and celebrates the sacrifices of our soldiers who put the safety of others first, yet the rest of the year most people only look out for their own selfish interests. It’s like we know what to do, but don’t want to do it (Romans 7:15-25).
Sadly, many veterans are neglected by the country they thought gave so much for. Many veterans come home from more scarred: physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Even with our government’s promise to care for and protect them, many soldiers suffer more here in America than on foreign soil. If we really are a Christian nation, we wouldn’t focus on our selfish and temporary wants, we would seek and do our Heavenly Father’s will (1 Corinthians 7:14, Matthew 26:39).
What Is Will
We each have been given the freedom to choose how we live. What we want, and how we live, are determined by whose will we follow. Will is defined as “Used to express choice, willingness, or consent; wish or desire.”
Unfortunately, our sinful nature has corrupted our hearts and we naturally have selfish desires and lack the will to do what is right (Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 1:21; 7:18). Left to our own devices, we are not capable of doing God’s will.
God’s people we are called to deny our selfish nature and seek and do God’s will (Proverbs 3:5-6, Hebrews 13:20-21). When we come to Jesus, we must deny ourselves of our selfish will (Luke 9:23, acts 20:24).
If we are really going to be set apart for God, we must seek and do God’s will, not ours (2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Peter 2:9). God’s people must let go of their old nature and selfish ways to follow God (1 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:28, Philippians 3:13-14). The Apostle Paul remembered his Jewish education about the difference between God’s will and man’s will.
Rāṣôn
The ancient world was evil and selfish; everyone looked out for their own interests. The sinful will of man wanted to become great and powerful. God called His people out of the darkness to do His will, and He promised to make them great if they obeyed Him (Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 14:2, Isaiah 41:8-9, Hosea 11:1.)
The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for will is rāṣôn, and it can also mean “Pleasure, goodwill, delight, favor, desire, or acceptance,” depending on the context it is used in.
Judaism emphasizes the need to seek and do the will of God or Ratzon HeShem instead of our selfish will! Below are the main ways God’s people know and seek God’s will in Judaism:
- studying the Torah
- Striving for mitzvah
- Prayer and meditation
- Listening to the Jewish community
- Balancing God’s will and free will
Jesus spent His entire earthly ministry teaching His followers to deny themselves and to seek God’s will in everything (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 6:33; 16:24, Luke 14:26). He wanted His followers to focus on a Heavenly Kingdom that will last forever, instead of the earthly kingdom that will end (1 Kings 3:13, Mark 10:29).
Our Lord struggled to teach His followers that the Kingdom of God and God’s will aren’t like this earthly kingdom (Isaiah 55:8-9, Matthew 18:1-4). Jesus emphasized humility and meekness, not power and earthly greatness like the rulers of this kingdom (Isaiah 40; 29-31, Luke 22:25).
Jesus and the New Testament writers prioritized the meek and simple, not the great and mighty because that is God’s will (Isaiah 30:1-33, Matthew 25:1-46, Titus 2:12, James 1:27).
Medicaid
In other big news this week, President Trump’s big beautiful Bill advanced to the Senate for passage into law. The bill is already facing criticism since some senators don’t think it cuts enough from the deficit, while others think it will hurt millions of Americans who rely on Medicaid for insurance.
Medicaid is a joint public health insurance that is funded by both federal and state governments which collect revenue from taxes. The only way cutting Medicaid can help with our budget is of funds from the Medicaid program are transferred from it to the federal deficit, which means states and local state taxes will solely used for the federal deficit instead of its intended purpose.
Our government will be stealing state funds to use for it’s own benefit. While I understand the need and purpose of financial responsibility, I also understand the conservative/Christian call to take care of those in need (Deuteronomy 15:11, Proverbs 19:17, acts 20:35, Galatians 6:2).
Despite what Pres. Trump and Maga believe God’s people are called to put others before themselves. Overwhelmingly, the Bible teaches God’s will is to put others first, even when it hurts (Proverbs 5:6-8, John 15:13, Romans 5:6-8).
God’s people cannot serve God and their own will at the same time (Proverbs 23:4-5, Luke 16:13, 1 Timothy 6:17-19):
- Greedy
- Selfish
- Uncompassionate
There is no debating what God’s will is, the Bible tells us everything we need to know about what is and isn’t God’s will. Obeying God isn’t always easy, but is always best (Exodus 19:5, John 14:15).
Despite what many false teachers claim, God’s will doesn’t always make us happy. God’s will always focuses on His purpose, not our selfish wants and dreams. Only when we die to ourselves can we truly focus on God’s rāṣôn!
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