You have probably heard this before, but I think it is fitting to hear again today as we recognize Veterans Day in the United States.

“There are only two defining forces that have offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.”

Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater Love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Soldiers don’t join the service with the expectation of being killed, but all know the possibility exists.

Two key articles in the US Military Code of Conduct express why we give our respect to veterans today.
I. I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
VI. I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

To those who have served. Thank you!

Dear Lord, You have done something special in America, and our veterans chose to put their earthly lives at risk to maintain it. Thank you for them, and help us all have the courage to defend our Faith and its critical place in America. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Bible writes about idols in many places; writing about how people turned from God and worshiped idols. Isaiah 2:8 says about Israel, “Their land is full of idols; the people worship things they have made with their own hands.”

I think we often get the picture in our minds of idols being a statue with people standing around it singing praises. However, idols can be anything that we put above God in our hearts and minds. Worship doesn’t necessarily mean bowing down in front of it. The big bank account, the boat, the sports car, the sport, the TV or social media celebrity can all be idols. We need to look at ourselves to make sure we have our priorities in the right order; making sure we put no other gods before God, as the first commandment says.

What are we doing Sunday morning?

Dear Lord, we know we should not have other gods before you. Help us think about what this really means, and make sure we devote our time, thoughts, energy, and resources toward your will first. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

It has become pretty clear in recent medical studies, that continuous stress is dangerous to our bodies. Not only does it raise our blood pressure, it causes other changes in our system that deteriorate our physical condition. It is interesting that this phenomenon was written about in Proverbs thousands of years ago.

Proverbs 14:30 says, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” NIV So how do we eliminate stress in our lives? We can also find directions for this in the bible. Romans 8:6 says, “Following after the Holy Spirit leads to life and peace.” TLB

When we search for God’s guidance, and surrender ourselves to God’s will by following the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we can be at peace knowing that the one who controls everything is also helping us.

Dear Lord, help us surrender our concerns to your power, and follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance so that we may have peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Does God give people troubles and tragedies to bring them to him?

It seems some people are open to the message of Jesus and others are not, without some event to initiate their conversion. Some people put their faith and confidence solely in themselves and may be more resistant to Jesus’ message than those who recognize their need for help beyond themselves.

We know that God wants all people to accept Christ and be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent,” so what about those who don’t see the need for Christ?

Is it possible that God puts things in their paths in an attempt to point them to their need for Him, like a shepherd with his staff and sheep dog, directing the sheep to the right path? Do people experience tragedies, accidents, medical problems in order to see their need for God’s help?

In 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 Paul writes, “But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.”

Acts 17:30 says, “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.”

Many things in life happen for reasons we do not know, and some people may say they are random events. I believe and regularly pray for God to be active in our world and in our lives. Wouldn’t it make sense then to believe he is doing things in peoples’ lives to bring them to repentance?

Dear Lord, we pray for your involvement in our world, bringing mercy and love. If saving someone for eternity requires them to experience difficulty on earth, to recognize their need for you, help us be there to share your love and Good News when it is needed. And help us remember to keep our priority on you and your will, so we stay on the narrow path that leads to salvation. In Jesus’ name we pray.

The history of man, people, as recorded in the Bible is one story after another where God provides people everything they need. People recognize what God has done for them for a short time, then turn away, falling for temptation, pride, and selfishness. God sends prophets to teach people and attempt to bring them back, but that ultimately fails and God is forced to take dramatic steps to remind people of his presence and power. This story is repeated in various forms in the Garden of Eden, the time of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt, and many other times.

However, God used a different strategy once.

John 1:1-2 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” and in verse 14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The Word is Jesus who came not just to tell people about God’s presence and power, he is God and became a man. By sacrificing himself for us we may avoid the punishment we deserve for disobeying God.

This plan is so much different and as John writes in, John 1:17, “For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.”

The different plan is that God came to us out of love, as Jesus, to save us, rather than destroy and demonstrate his power and our failings. John 3:17 says, “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

Dear Lord, Thank you for the mercy you showed us by sending Jesus for our salvation. Help us cherish this amazing gift and maintain our love for and obedience to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.