Photo by John Banks on Unsplash
Dear Saints of First Lutheran,
It takes a certain kind of person to answer the call to serve in the military. My thanks to all who have served … and currently serve. I recognize and thank you and your families’ for your service, especially on Veteran’s Day. As a veteran myself, I understand the call to serve. When we hear the call, we answer without knowing, really, what to expect. I know when I joined the military, the U.S. hadn’t fired a shot … or been fired on … in anger in some time. Yet, inherent to military duty is the danger associated with defending the country from “all enemies, foreign and domestic” as the military’s oaths of enlistment and office state. In accordance with this oath, our military veterans and current members vowed to stand firm against those enemies in order to protect the rest of us from harm. So … thank you for your service to us and our nation.
As Christians, God calls us, His children, to serve Him. We might look at Moses’ for an example. One day, while tending his sheep, Moses saw an unusual sight. It was a bush which was on fire, yet, unlike a normal fire, it wasn’t consuming the bush. Then the bush called out to Moses. And this is where God calls Moses into His service to be the means by which He would free His people from slavery in Egypt. Moses recognized the possibility of danger that lay ahead. Here he was, now a lowly shepherd, who years before had escaped Egypt with his life following his killing of an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew (Exodus 2:11-15). But God promised His protection to Moses saying, “But I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12) So, Moses, trusting God, went as God asked and stood firm, under His protection, before Pharaoh until … Pharaoh released God’s people from slavery. Throughout the ordeal, Moses resolutely held to God’s call to him as God protected him while he stood firmly against Pharaoh.
We often think Moses was a mighty man of God who boldly answered and carried out God’s call. When, in fact, Moses was anything but bold. He seriously doubted his ability to serve God. Moses first response, “How can I stand up to Pharaoh?” … God said, “I’ll be with you.” Then Moses figured the people wouldn’t believe him, “Who do I say is sending me?” … God said, “The God of your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Exodus 3:11-15) Moses next attempt to get out of his call, “They won’t believe me” … God said, “OK, I’ll give you some signs of my power.” And He did. Finally, Moses tried, “I’m not very good with words” … God said, “I’ve got you covered. I’ll send Aaron, your brother. He’s great with words.” (Exodus 4:1-17) We also, like Moses – doubting our own abilities, might try to come up with excuses to avoid serving as God calls us. But know that, also like Moses, God never sends us alone. He knows we’d fail on our own, so He sends us with the Holy Spirit to help us stand firm (Mark 13:10-11). God’s strength becomes our strength (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Fear not His call to serve!
Your Brother in Christ,
Pastor Jim