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Veteran's Day

Today is the 11th of November. It is the day that the United States of America pauses to reflect on and give honour to the countess multitude of men and women who have served in the Armed Forces to protect our freedoms and defend our borders. I join with our nation and offer my own heartfelt thanks to our very own Watchers of the Wall, Defenders of this Realm of Men, and Protectors from all threats, both foreign and domestic. May God bless and keep you all...and your families.

But as I thought about the brave men and women who have served and currently serve our country, I couldn't help but remember that we as Christians are in an army of our own. We are in a spiritual army. And just like the veterans that we honour today, we don't just fight the enemy for ourselves. We fight the enemy for those who cannot.

Never has the need for intercession on the behalf of fellow believers and non-believers alike been such a burden on my heart. In fact, before I can even begin to reprove others for their isolationist thinking, I must first seek the forgiveness of God for failing to stand in the gap for others.

Christendom nowadays has become very self-focused. In one very real sense, this Christian walk is self-centered. Indeed, we are admonished by the Apostle Paul to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, to make our calling and election sure. The scriptures also tell us to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. I have even reminded many a Sunday School student that when we stand before God, we stand alone.

But we also have a responsibility to our fellowman. Just like members of the Armed Forces, those of us in God's army have a duty to fight the battles that others cannot. This is where intercession comes in. it is one thing to toss up a prayer grenade every once in a while when someone reaches out to us for prayer. But how many of us truly ask the Lord to place others on our hearts so that we can trouble the Throne of Grace on their behalf? How many of us truly seek the Lord about the needs of others or the struggles of others? Or do we spend most of our time going to God for ourselves only?

This Veterans Day, as we salute the defenders and protectors of this physical realm, let us not forget that we are called to do the dame for others in the spiritual.

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