Battlefront Honors - Sunday October 19, 2014
I have fought the good fight. . .there is in store for me the crown of righteousness. . . . 2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV
Recently my husband and I attended a funeral visitation for the father of a good friend of ours. Among his many experiences, this man had fought in World War II. Wounded in battle, he viewed the Eiffel Tower in Paris through an ambulance window heading toward a hospital.
As we looked at the various items and photographs, we spotted a large frame full of army medals. Looking closer, we also noted the bullet fragment that had been long ago removed from his leg. Though only pieces of fabric and metal, these items represented so much more - loyalty, courage, discipline, sacrifice, and perseverance. They are qualities to be recognized and honored.
God brought these medals and this man to mind a few days later when I was struggling with feelings of weariness and discouragement. Coming off a very busy month filled with the sacrifices and demands of caring for others, part of my heart simply longed for rest. I was almost resentful that there were so many needs that sapped so much of my time and energy. Then God gently reminded me that in this age, at this time, I too am in a battle. Satan, the enemy, has taken many captives, wounded many, and is on the prowl seeking to destroy all in his path.
Like this man's war experiences, our battle calls for sacrifice, courage, and perseverance. And though I may feel unnoticed, my Commander's eye is upon me; He is aware of it all. My part is to receive His grace. One day, He will honor and reward me for every "bullet taken" and every sacrifice made. I will rest, satisfied by a battle well fought and won.
Submitted by:
Dawn Bovenmyer
Stonebrook Community Church
Ames, Iowa
One-Year Reading Plan:
Jeremiah 33:1-34:22
1 Timothy 4:1-16
Psalms 89:1-13
Proverbs 25:23-24
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCB-ES: Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible B) The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are from the Holy, Bible, New International Version, copyright B) 1973, 1978, 1984 by InternaB-tional Bible Society; (NKJV) are from New King James Version B) 1982 by Thomas Nelson; (NLT) are from the New Living Translation, B) 1996, Tyndale House Publishers; (ESV) are from English Standard VersionB., B) 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers; (TM) are from The Message B) 1993 by NavPress Publishers.