I love the movie, “Saving Private Ryan.” There is an article about the movie written by a retired Army Ranger named Tom Allen. As you know, the movie is about the Normandy Invasion and Tom Hanks plays the character of Captain John Miller. Captain Miller led a small team behind enemy lines to find Private Ryan to take him from battle because four of his brothers had already been killed in combat. Tom Allen wrote that he was proud to see the brave Rangers storm the beaches, but there was a part of the movie he didn’t like. You know that at the end of the movie Captain Miller finds Private Ryan, but he refuses to leave because his platoon is being attacked. So Captain Miller and the other members of his team join in the firefight. Captain Miller is shot and as he’s dying he grabs Private Ryan played by Matt Damon and his last words are, “Earn this.”

Retired Army Ranger Tom Allen wrote that the words, “Earn this,” made him really upset. He said a Ranger would never say that. The motto of the Rangers is not “Earn this,” it is Sua Sponte, which means, “by my own accord” or literally, “I chose this.” He said if Captain Miller had been a real ranger, his last words to Private Ryan would have been, Sua Sponte. “I chose this of my own accord, I volunteered. There’s no charge, now, you go and live.”

There are many who chose to live and die on the battle field. Some for the adrenaline rush that comes in the thick of battle, others following the family tradition, and some because of a sense of duty; whatever the reason, they chose to stand in the line of fire. As a result of their willingness to stand in the GAP, you and I have freedom.

Now, look at the CROSS! Jesus isn’t saying, “Earn this.” We never could. He is saying, “Sua Sponte. I chose this, I volunteered for this. There’s no cost to you and because I love you, now live!” Jesus is says, enjoy your life at MY expense, but do it living for ME. So let me ask, “Do you live for HIM?”

Have a great 4^th of July,

Bro. Brad