Good Morning Friends,
Today is Veteran’s Day marking the victory in the War to end all wars. Of course, it was not an end of the fighting. The wars continue. But it reminds me that the real war is against evil. John Stuart Mill, said, “War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight is a miserable creature…” Well there are some things worth fighting for that make a difference. And some of them require us to become true veterans of the cross, but first we must be good soldiers of the cross. Warriors who fight for peace with love. Are You A Spiritual Veteran With A Faith Worth Fighting For?
Scripture: You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer. And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.
2 Timothy 2:1-7 (NRSV)
For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 (NRSV)
After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.” And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
Luke 7:1-10 (NRSV)
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)
Message: 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. 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 being 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 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.
And So, all this reminds me of the battle we have for men’s and women’s souls and the power of prayer as the best weapon at our disposal and often the last one used in the fight…not just one used on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. We are to have specific targets of prayer but also develop a lifestyle of prayer as natural as breathing. Friends, so goes our prayer life, so goes our relationship with God, so goes the war. Have the courage to deepen and strengthen your prayer life in the battle for your soul and others. Realize that the reason we have freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, the freedom to assemble and the rights to a fair trial and to vote is because others have been willing to fight for this freedom, but that there is an even more important freedom and right to claim. The cause of Jesus is worth the fight.
Pray we fight the good fight for the freedom found in Christ. Pray our unceasing prayers are always under the influence of God in the Spirit filled with belief and overflowing with action. Pray we grow in love for God’s Glory. Pray we are faithful to doing our part. Pray we use our spiritual gifts, talents and abilities in serving God and others. Pray we are committed to a discipline of prayer. Pray we are completely obedient in devotion to God. Pray we realize that God is listening and encouraging us to pray powerfully as Spiritual Veterans with authority in the Word of God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 