At the end of Saving Private Ryan Tom Hank’s character Captain Miller, as he lay dieing, says to Ryan, played by Matt Damon, “James, earn this….earn it.” . Then, as the scene goes back to the cemetery in Normandy, the now elderly Ryan, standing at the grave of Miller, turns to his wife and says “Tell me I have lived a good life. Tell me I’m a good man.” In recognition of the sacrifice made specifically for him, Ryan realizes the debt he owes and is overwhelmed by the price paid for his life. “No greater love…..”

This morning in our church, the choir did a great rendition of “And Can it Be?” by Charles Wesley. The first verse of that song has these words:

And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain— For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, should die for me? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Ryan needed to know that he had lived a life worthy of the sacrifice made for him. How often do I forget the sacrifice made for me? Can I repay the debt? Of course not. Am I supposed to earn the sacrifice like Captain Miller told Ryan? Impossible!! But what I do need to do is to live my life aware of that sacrifice and thus live life with thankfulness and gratitude to Him who died for me. And I am to live my life aware that my life is not my own, but has been bought and paid for with a price that I can never fully comprehend.

“Oh how marvelous, Oh how wonderful and my song shall ever be.

Oh how marvelous, Oh how wonderful, is my savior’s love for me.”