Watching the movie Saving Private Ryan, a Captain Miller and his command went on a mission to find a specific soldier in the middle if war. Their mission was to find him and send him home safely. They finally found Private Ryan, and shortly after the Captain was shot. With his dying breath he told Private Ryan “earn this”.
At first I was left feeling like that was a really messed up thing to say with your last breath…but then it hit me. That is what Jesus did for us. He came into a sinful war-zone to find his people and save them from the war of sin. He sacrificed himself so that we may go home to the Father in safety and live a life worthy of the sacrifice He made.
Will we ever really be able to earn what He did for us? No, but we can sure live our best life trying to every day. God has given us so many blessings. Everything we have is because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. We are exactly where we are, have exactly what we have, connect with specific people, all for His purpose.
We have so many ways to worship Him and show our gratitude for everything the Father and the Son have done for us. It goes so much further than studying His word and prayer, which are absolutely vital pieces of the puzzle, but don’t ever discount the opportunity to just take a step back and appreciate all the wonders and blessings God has placed in your life.
God has blessed you with gifts, talents, love, kindness, work, people, and relationships so that you may use them all for His glory. Use your skills for His good. Worship Him by using the gifts He gave you. Strive to live a life worthy of the sacrifice made so you may have these blessings. We will never be able to earn it, we will never deserve it, but we can sure show our gratitude by using them for His good.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24
