Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach
Christian Outreach Ministry to those Incarcerated, with Addictions and our Military
Bipolar Disorder effects Veterans at an alarming rate. Kowing the signs and where to get help is essential.
Bipolar disorder is marked by extreme swings in energy levels and moods, from high highs to low lows. The condition affects an estimated 45 million people around the world, according to the World Health Organization, but with treatment, symptoms can be managed effectively.
WWII Battle of the Bulge during freezing winter 1944
Military personnel on air, land or sea, worldwide since the inception of fighting forces are used to being given commands (orders). Commands are there to regulate the smooth operation of the overall and individual military units; from large armies down to the smallest squad.
The same holds true to God’s Soldiers. As exampled in our text Jesus made sure he left clear commands to His disciples concerning their relationship to one another.
Ye are my friends, – “What a friend we have in Jesus…” , is often sung in church pews across the world but is it sung sincerely? Are we really friends with Jesus just because we said some short prayer, or walked down an isle? Jesus says NO!!!!
if ye do – Jesus says His friendship, that is true sincere fellowship is based upon your actions.
whatsoever I command you. – The action here that we have been commanded to take is simple v.12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
First, I want to be clear this is not Works based anything. You will take action not because you must to gain something but because your entire being desire to do so. A true Christian is compelled to obedience because of His love for God and his desire to please God. This is not something natural man will do and is the mark of a true believer.
Second, natural man HATES following orders/commands. When Adam the first man rejected God for all mankind it was put into mans seed this rebellion against authority. It is why recruit training is so difficult, they break us down to build us back up to be able to follow orders. The same is for those in Christ, we had to realize our brokenness in order to see our need for Christ and be ready to follow Him, to have Him as Lord (commander) of our lives.
Lastly, God made it really simple when Jesus said all the commands of life can be boiled down into two Matthew 22:36-40, we are to love God and our neighbors. By this we can have true Joy in this world.
Say What?
Observation: What did I read? What struck you as most meaningful?
So What?
Interpretation: What does it mean? Overall and the most meaningful? Did it change your view on Following Orders?
Now What?
Application: How does it apply to me?
Then What?
Implementation: What do I do? How can I start living it out today?
Chapter 21 v.1-10 is a repetition or better put confirmation of the promise given to the captive Jews in Chapters 13 and 14. The promise was simple their oppressors the Babylonians would be overthrown and they would be delivered. As with most all biblical prophecy an exact date and time was not given.
Isaiah chooses a very interesting way of addressing the coming war, instead of relating the account in the first person as events unfolded, he chooses to tells the story in the third person as a Guard or Watchman doing his duty.
God has related to Isaiah the coming invasion and then tells him this v.6:
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, – God has spoken and Isaiah must obey. We all know the consequences of disobedience to God Deuteronomy 11:26-28, Jonah, or Ananias and Sapphira to name a few. For our military, the UCMJ provides for disciplining of military personnel who fail to obey orders.
Go, set a watchman, – This request is simple and worthy, set a guard a watchman to let everyone know when the invaders are near. But not any lackadaisical sentry this one declares himself v.7 a Lion that is someone alert and ready to roar the alarm.
Guards and Watchmen have been a critical part of any defense against aggression and chaos since the beginning of man. We use them in everyday life as crossing guards, police, home security services, airport screening and so much more.
In the military this task, especially in areas of combat and armed aggression is a must. From the beginning of Basic Training Army recruits (used) to be taught their 11 General Orders:
1: You will take charge of this post and all government property in view.
2: You will walk your post in a military manner, always on alert and observing everything that takes place within your sight or hearing.
3: You will report all violations of orders you are instructed to enforce.
4: You will repeat all calls from more posts more distant to the guardhouse than your own.
5: I will quit my post only after I am properly relieved.
6: To receive, obey and pass on to the sentry who relieves you all orders from the commanding officer, officer of the day, and non-commissioned officers of the guard only.
7: You will talk to no one except in the line of duty.
8: You will give an alarm in case of fire or disorder.
9: You will call the Sergeant of the Guard in any case that does not have instructions.
10: You will salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.
11: You will be especially watchful at night, and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near your post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.
Somehow the army now thinks folsk are either too dumb or incapable of that much memory so they have chopped it to three. Other services still have something similar.
let him declare what he seeth. – Like any good guard, sentry or watchman this one is told to yell out as soon as he sees the enemy. In v.9, he does just that calling out all he sees and then closes this section in v.10 with God has said all this to me.
What is it you have need of being on guard for today? Maybe you are not being invaded by a foreign enemy as Babylon was, but one has only to look around at the happenings in America and most other countries to see that Judeo-Christian values are under constant attack. If you do not think you need to be a watchman for you family values and for your own self you are sadly mistaken.
Maybe you are not yet convinced repent and trust Christ as Lord and Savior (I pray that will soon change). If you are ex-military you still have a sworn duty to be on guard against all enemies foreign and domestic. Anyone who would pervert the constitution need be of concern.
Maybe it is just something even simpler, as your heart or mind just do not seem to be in sync all the time. I hate “Flip Wilson” theology, that is folks who put all the blame on Satan and claim the “Devil made me do it”. However there is no denying the fact that is we let our “guard down” Satan will attack and attack in force. Daily we need to post the sentry that protects us from spiritual attacks.
Finally everyone going into battle needs to be Armored up. Today’s modern soldiers are far more prepared ballistically than I was 30 years ago for battle. Yet many are ill prepared for personal battles. That is why the Bible says we must never start the day without the FULL ARMOR of Christ.
Say What?
Observation: What did I read? What struck you as most meaningful?
So What?
Interpretation: What does it mean? Overall and the most meaningful? Did it change your view on Being on Watch?
Now What?
Application: How does it apply to me?
Then What?
Implementation: What do I do? How can I start living it out today?
…
Massachusetts Provincial Congress stated April 26, 1775, following the Battles of Lexington and Concord:
“Appealing to Heaven for the justice of our cause, we determine to die or be free.”
The Massachusetts Navy flew a similar Liberty Tree Flag, with the line “An Appeal to God.”
This is the Apostle Paul’s second letter to his young disciple Timothy. In Chapter 1 Paul urges Timothy to guard all he has been entrusted with. Specifically the Gospel and it’s Good News of Christ.
Chapter 2 v.1-13 begins with Paul telling Timothy to be Strong. Not just any ordinary strength (in the faith) but that of a soldier for he is surely to endure many battles.
No soldier – This is not the first time Paul has referenced Christians as soldiers Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
gets entangled – He is making it clear then (Ephesians) and here that we are in a serious battle and we have no time for
in civilian pursuits, outside distractions. I want to be clear that is not to say we should be ignorant of the world around you, or silent about it either (See yesterday’s devotional) Paul is making the case for our FOCUS.
since his aim – What is the aim, goal or mission at hand? Is it to be tied up in worldly affairs while trying to Pastor a church or serve overseas missions? The obvious answer is no.
is to please – Our aim, focus, goal, mission is always to please…
the one who enlisted him. (superiors) – That is to be a well disciplined soldier for God
In the military a Soldier, Marine (or any servicemember) does not obey orders and focus on the mission to “please” their superiors. They do it because discipline and training has taught them it saves lives in battle.
The same applies to the Christian soldier in their daily walk. Life’s distractions and the interloping of Satan’s minions to temp us can easily sway our focus. That is why Paul in Ephesians stresses the need to Armor Up and here encouraging Timothy to BE Strong and stay focused.
C.H. Spurgeon said it best:
The man who has given himself wholly to the service of Christ must not undertake any other business that would prevent his giving his whole strength to his Master’s work.
Say What?
Observation: What did I read? What struck you as most meaningful?
So What?
Interpretation: What does it mean? Overall and the most meaningful? Did it change your view on Being Strong?
Now What?
Application: How does it apply to me?
Then What?
Implementation: What do I do? How can I start living it out today?
Leviticus 19 is a further breakdown or expounding of the moral (Ten Commandment) Law. The requirement is for folks to be Holy (something we know they are wholly incapable of doing apart from Christ) because God is Holy. It teaches separation from worldly desires and concentration on the thing that matters God. When our neighbor (anyone) offends v.17 us we are to rebuke them in love.
In our text for today we see the second half of the neighbor handling equation, vengeance or not being and Avenger.
Thou shalt not avenge, – Remembering context if we are offended by the actions of our neighbors (anyone at large in the US or your own country) we shall not take actions against them.
nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, – Nor am I to harbor malice in my heart against them.
but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: – God says I am to LOVE even those tearing apart America which can be a hard pill to swallow. Unless…
I am the Lord. – We understand that pill is not ours to Avenge, it is God’s, the creator of all things. He alone has the authority to take life that He created.
I will add to this a thought not found in the text for you to contemplate, we have an understanding being able to read the whole Word of God, that Man is completely corrupt apart from Christ. Should we not expect this unruliness from our youth and extend the Love of God to them?
As a soldier my job was to execute the orders of my superiors. To “take vengeance” if you will upon the enemies of the United States. After my military career ended it was not so easy for me to adjust to “civilian” life. I had been an Army Avenger for 20 years+ and suddenly I had to play by a different set of rules.
Unfortunately not everyone chooses to obey the rules. Look, let’s be real there are times when it is real easy to be extremely mad about what is happening in America (and I can only assume in your country). I am a Constitutionalist, that is I believe in the principles set for by the founding fathers in the Constitution not as an ever changing document but as one to be preserved. These same things I see being destroyed today so do I “avenge” them? No!
Do I fight, yes and there is a HUGE difference (one for another devotional) but only within the confines of v.17, rebuking them with the Love of God in my heart.
Say What?
Observation: What did I read? What struck you as most meaningful?
So What?
Interpretation: What does it mean? Overall and the most meaningful? Did it change your view on being Avengers?
Now What?
Application: How does it apply to me?
Then What?
Implementation: What do I do? How can I start living it out today?
