I had the honor of visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier a few years ago. It was an awe-inspiring moment. The solemnity, the austere way in which this tomb holding the bodies of men and women who sacrificed their very lives, the way in which this tomb was being guarded was so sacred.
Each soldier, walking with measured steps, looking ahead, not to the left or right, but straight ahead. You could blow a whistle or yell out, but it would not break their stride. They had a singular purpose in mind. A duty. For the world to see.
2 Timothy 2:1-4 speaks of this kind of duty:
“You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; 2 and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. 3 Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer.”
The soldiers guarding the tomb are entrusted with a solemn duty. Guard the tomb. That’s their mission. One of duty and faithfulness. A sacred honor. And so it is for those who follow Jesus. We, too, have a sacred duty, a charge to keep. Let’s talk about it this Sunday as we honor and celebrate our veterans. If you are a veteran, or know someone who is, join me this Sunday for a worship celebration that glorifies God and honors those who served! To register for worship, you can sign up at: https://rsvp.church/r/gVufUAP4 . You can also join us online at 10:00am. For online worship go to www.umcgt.org.
Service of Remembrance will be on Wednesday, November 17, at 6:30pm. This will be a time of prayer, music, and remembering our loved ones who will not be with us for the holidays. The Care Team and I will be on hand to offer personal prayer after the service.
Bible Study will take a break for the rest of November, but you keep reading the Word! We’ll come back with our Advent study – stay tuned for more info!
The Lord bless you and keep you,
Pastor Linda
I think of Isaac Watts' hymn, "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?" One stanza reads, "Thy saints in all this glorious war shall conquer, though they die; they see the triumph from afar, by faith they bring it nigh." Praise God for those who give their lives on behalf of their brothers and sisters. Jesus said this is the greatest love.