Saving Private Ryan

[The Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) came with his men to save Private Ryan (Matt Damon) because Ryan had lost his 3 older brothers over the course of WWII.  Over the course of the mission the captain lost the majority of his men.]

The reason this clip strikes me is the same reason why most manly movies do, which is because it contains sacrifice.  There is a reason why throughout the history of the world that the military has attracted men.  It asks them to sacrifice so much of themselves for the good of others.  Men long, and women too (but men especially), to give their lives as a ransom for others.  It is Captain Miller who ultimately gives his life for Private Ryan.  Miller not only gives his life, but the lives of his men.  True authentic living is given meaning in sacrifice.

So why is it that Miller tells Ryan to earn this?  It is because we want to make sure that our sacrifices are not made in vain.  We want to know that the causes that we gave our lives for, and the lives of those we are responsible for meant something, that it mattered.  This is what this movie has to speak to us, that sacrifice is meet with gratitude for what was done.  We are called to live in honor of the sacrifices that have been made on our behalf.  

The most powerful sacrifice that was made on our behalf is the sacrifice of Christ, God, dying for us, so that we may be free, and live with Him.  This is the devotion of His love.  He laid down His life, and even inspired His best friends to lay down their lives for the sake of you!  He loves you, and he asks you to honor the sacrifice He made.  We don't have to earn it, but to truly let it sink in and change the way we see the world, because somebody loved/cared for us that much that they gave their lives for you.