Lest We Forget

by May 2, 2018Missions

Anzac Day, April 25, is a national day of remembrance that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations the contribution and suffering of all those who have served”. However, it was originally devised to honor the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli against the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

It is a somber day, and beautiful dawn services are held all over the country to honor those who gave their lives for freedom. A beautiful poem, an ode, is read at every service and is always finished by the audience repeating ‘Lest we Forget’. But as we know in this war-ravaged world, freedom is never free. It comes at great cost and immense sacrifice.

There is no more beautiful picture of this than the ultimate sacrifice paid willingly by our Lord at Calvary. He was brutally beaten and nailed to a cross, humiliated and taunted, but not for some foreign government ideology. He sacrificed His life so that we might be set free from our bondage and sin, healed of our diseases and transformed into His likeness. Lest we forget.

His death brought us life and all we have to do is accept Jesus as our Saviour. Such extreme, unfathomable love, the ultimate sacrifice – Lest we forget.

For this is how much God loved the world – He gave His one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn and judge the world, but to be its Saviour and rescue it.  John 3:16-17 The Passion Translation

Below are the words of a song written by an Australian pastor and musician who was tragically killed by a lightning strike a couple of years back as he ministered to children at a youth camp. He beautifully links the supreme sacrifice paid by Jesus and reminds us to never forget.

CALVARY by Kris Guglielmucci

I see the cross at Calvary; His precious blood that set me free;

A ransom only He could pay; His life to take my sin away;

And as I stand; before His cross; I know my gain was Heaven’s loss;

I am reminded once again; The precious Lamb, for me, was slain.

Lest we forget Jesus paid the price;

Lest we forget His awesome sacrifice;

I will remember Jesus nailed to that tree;

And I remember He was dying for me…Lest we forget.

Written by:  Ruth Bryan
Published on 5/2/18

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