Veterans Day
We sang:
"Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light
Protect us by Thy might
Great God, our King"
“Courage is a strong desire to live, and readiness to die.”
-G.K. Chesterton
Several Verses this Morning
“Greater Love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
-Jesus as recorded by John 15:13
“For we do not wrestle [War] against flesh and blood, [The physical] but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” [The spiritual]
-Ephesians 6:12
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
-Romans 12:18
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” [Selfishness]
-James 4:1-3
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 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
1. Veterans have given us something that we can never repay. They have given us our freedom.
2. Veterans have also shown us what it means to live a life of service. They have shown us what it means to put others before ourselves. Sacrifice for the greater good.
3. Honoring our veterans is not just about what we say, but also about what we do.
“Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it. 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”
[Trusting God’s Process]
-Mark 8:8-10
“When the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
-Mark 15:39
[Trusted God’s process]
It is the Veteran, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Veteran, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Veteran, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the Veteran, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Veteran, not the politician,
who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Veteran,
who salutes the Flag,
It is the Veteran, who serves under the Flag,
to be buried by the flag,
so the protester can burn the flag.
-Author Unknown
“Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
-Romans 13:7