Faith Worth Fighting For
Good Morning Friends,
Not so many years ago on Sunday mornings I would get together with a group of older men, mostly Presbyterian veterans of World War II, and study the Bible. Sometimes we would sing Onward Christian Soldiers. The singing of the hymn has gone out of fashion. People falsely assume it promotes war. But everything has a time and season. Current culture prefers us to experience life as a playground instead of a battlefield….making peace not war. It is hard to argue with that. But today’s devotional is for all those who have seen both the religious and the spiritual side of the experience…who have experienced the war and the peace…for those who have watched at the wall… who have spent time in the trenches…who have enlisted in God’s service to set men free. Today, Veterans Day, is for all those saints who have found a Faith Worth Fighting For.
Scripture: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13 (NIV)
He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
Isaiah 2:4 (NIV)
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34 (NIV)
Message: I guess protesters have their place in history. King George called the America Revolution “the Presbyterian Revolution” because so many Presbyterian ministers were influential in starting and supplying American independence. The only Christian minister to sign the Declaration of Independence was Reverend John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian. Woodrow Wilson, Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln are among the 8 Presbyterian presidents of our country. I come out of a heritage of faith that has its share of people who though they desired peace decided to go to war. Reformed and always reforming is not a peaceful state. Paul tells us, rightfully so, that we are in a battle with the unseen forces of the spirit world, and that we must put on the full armor of God in order to hold our ground and stand fast against the attack of our the enemy. He then lists the pieces of this armor, comparing them to the armor of the Roman soldier. He writes about the enemy within. It is the enemy we must face when we go to war. This hymn I sang on those early Sunday mornings describes the spiritual battle:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle see his banners go!
At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee; on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise; brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. Like a mighty army moves the church of God; brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
Pray we not be side tracked by denominational differences that are not worth fighting for. Pray we see a time when we need not train for war any more. Pray we are not divided in our thinking. Pray we are all of one body. Pray we have the same hope and belief in God. Pray we are in unity in the focus of our charity. Pray we are forgiven when we have no clue what we are doing. Pray we pray for each other. Pray we lead with love and thanks for the footprints of those who have paved the way of our future. Pray we follow Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 