Reporting For Duty

Another Veterans Day has come and gone here in the United States.   While we share some of our  holidays  with people around the world,  Veterans Day is a distinctively American holiday.   On that day, we honor those who have served our nation’s call to arms in times of war and peace.   While it is related to Memorial Day, it is different in that Memorial Day focuses on those who died in military service while Veterans Day focuses on those who served and returned.  Like many of you, I have relatives who  served in the military in days past and currently have a son-in-law who serves in the United States Army.  In recent days,  I have been thinking of an old hymn that includes these words:

Am I am soldier of the cross- A follower of the Lamb? And shall I fear to own His cause, Or blush to speak His name?/  In the name, the precious name, Of Him who died for me, Through grace I’ll win the promised crown, Whate’er my cross may be.  

One of the things that is critical for those in military service is following orders of their commanding officer.  Failure to follow orders can result not only in the charge of insubordination at a minimum but also  the loss of life at the worse.   As Jesus faced his own crucifixion, he put it this way as he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane:  “not my will, but thine be done.”.     Are we faithful soldiers of the cross or do we face the charge of insubordination to God our Father?    

The Salvation Army was founded by a British lay preacher named William Booth.   He used the metaphor of being a soldier of the cross in his work for the Kingdom of God.    One of the things that the  Salvation Army has always focused on is working with the least and the lost among us.    William Booth put the cause of being a solder of the cross this way:

"While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight-I'll fight to the very end!" 

Can Christ Jesus count on you in the fight to touch the least and the lost?   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

            Prayer: Holy God, there are so many people that need to know the touch of your love.  I am reporting for duty.  Use me, Lord;  in Christ’s name.  Amen.