On the 111th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month of 1918, our nation celebrated the end of World War 1. Armistice Day became Veterans Day in 1954 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Today, we celebrate all veterans for their self-sacrificing service to preserve freedom.
“Veterans know better than anyone else the price of freedom, for they’ve suffered the scars of war. We can offer them no better tribute than to protect what they have won for us.”
Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C.
Paul writes, “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”Titus 2:3
The word Paul uses is stratiōtēs, a champion for Christ.
America’s soldiers are champions for freedom. They are also champions for doing what is right.
Paul paid a great price as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 2 Corinthians 11:25-27
Many of our veterans have paid a great price to champion the cause of what is right and the cause of freedom.
Our veterans and their families have packed their belongings and traveled to unknown parts of America and the world to serve for a few years, make friends, and then move to another city to do it all over again.
Our veterans have left their families to go to unfriendly lands and returned to broken families, returned without limbs, with illness, or emotional scars. They have missed birthdays, graduations, and family milestones.
Some never returned.
All for the cause of freedom.
I salute all veterans and their families.
Won’t you thank a veteran and the family today for being a good soldier, a champion for freedom?
My prayer for you:
Almighty God, thank You for Paul and all the good soldiers who paid a great price to champion the cause of Christ and the cause of freedom. May America return to You, champion the cause of Christ, and honor those who champion the cause of freedom. May America recognize the great cause our veterans and their families have paid to champion the cause of freedom. God bless our veterans and their families.
