Veterans
After 40 hours of work, thanks to some youthful aid this weekend, my husband almost has our 5 acres of leaves cleaned up. He is a veteran leaf blower/raker. He is also, exhausted. A huge shout of appreciation for four young adults from our church who sacrificed their Saturday morning to help move the leaves of Shiloh!
The dictionary defines veteran as: "A person who has had long experience in a particular field or a person who served in the military. Today we remember the men and women who have laid down their lives for us! Thank You. Without you, our freedom to worship as we wish may have been long gone. God help that freedom to continue!
Most of us did not first hand fight in the Wars of our fathers and none of us walked beside our Savior in the flesh. Yet, many of us are veterans of the faith. The word veterans comes from the Latin word veteranus...vetus meaning "old". I qualify as an "old" Christian! How about you? Taking the word veteran and plugging it into Biblegateway, I smiled at the encouraging words from The Message. God is spurring us! Have joy! Get an adrenaline shoot!
I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus' name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One. And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers- such vitality and strength! God's word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One.
1 John 2:12-14
(Disciple in a Long-Distance Race) Do you see what this means-all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running-and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished the race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12:1-3
