The Cup of Blessing That We Have Received

I was reading something this morning that was written by a friend, and it sparked some thoughts. Please bare with me as I seek to unravel some of these thoughts.

As I read, I was reminded of an account of King David. At the time, David was surrounded by the host of Saul, and if you remember, the Scriptures tells us that David was thirsty. So, without command, three of David's mighty men broke through the gate of the city of Bethlehem to get him a drink. They fought their way through the enemy, they sacrificed their lives, they put everything on the line for their captain. When the men returned with the cup of water, David took it and poured it on the ground. To us reading this account, it seems like a great waste especially after such sacrifice, but David would not drink the water because he saw it as the blood of these men. Brethren, the Lord Jesus Christ gave up his kingdom, humbled himself, endured great agony, was obedient even to the death of the cross and now ever liveth to make intercession for us. He did and does all this to bring us a cup of living water that if we drink we shall never thirst again. He has showered us with his blood, he has given us unimaginable riches, he has freely given us grace and mercy. Brethren, every good and perfect gift cometh from above. Our hearts are full, our cup runneth over [Psalm 23]. Let us pour out our cups of thanksgiving to the Lord. Let us honor the sacrifice he has made, the gifts he has given, the love he has bestowed on us his people. The mercy of the Lord does indeed endure forever.

I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. God is very good. Praise Him. Also, by way of reminder, as we enjoy our feast today and give God thanks, please remember to pray for our countless brethren in many different countries that are either in prison for the gospel or seeking to worship God without being arrested. The Lord be with you.

Liberty Through Sacrifice

I was working the graveyard shift last summer at my local hospital, and had the privilege of taking care of a World War II veteran. As I was talking to him, he informed me that he would have gone and fought on the coast of Normandy during the D-day invasion if it had not been for an injury he had sustained previously. He was fighting with Patton and a mortar shell exploded near him. A piece of shrapnel hit him in the lower jaw preventing him from fighting further. As I listened, I realized that these young men with their whole lives ahead of them, with wives, with children, with dreams, gave it all up for future generations. I then communicated this thought to him by saying, "You gave up your life in order for us to have a life." His response was somewhat shocking. He did not dismiss it. He did not lessen it. He said, "That's right! We did." In other words, he wasn't going to be a hero. He was sacrificing his life to give future generations hope for the future. Through this account, we need to realize that countless people have given their lives for the liberty we now enjoy. We can't ignore their sacrifice. I would like to thank the brave Americans for laying down their lives, for giving up comfort, for sacrificing everything for their country. Thank you.

Now, as Christians we have liberation and freedom through the sacrifice of one, the man, Christ Jesus. Through his sacrifice, we enjoy eternal liberty. Christ commands that in order for us to be able to stand in the evil day, to be ready when he comes, we need to watch and pray that we enter not into temptation. Thomas Jefferson said, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." This is no more true than for a Christian. We must be vigilant against sin, against the rising injustice in our land, against Satan's devices. This watching should produce action as well. We cannot stand idly by as brave Americans are giving their lives in wars foreign and domestic. We have to make good on their sacrifice. We cannot waste the freedom we have received. Freedom is not free. It cost the sinless Saviour's blood. It required millions of people to die. Believers, I am pleading with you. It is time to stand up and say to the proud waves of injustice sweeping our land, "Hitherto and no further, and here shall your proud waves be stayed." You may not be fighting a battle in some dessert or invading some coast with little chance of survival, but you do live in a country that hates God, murders children, and calls good, evil and evil, good. It is time to rise up. It is high time to awake out of sleep and apathy. 

By way of warning, you should never ever fear men. You should only fear God. So, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Men, many of you would like to join the military or would like to do something heroic. There is nothing more heroic than a man that stands up for truth and does not compromise. There is nothing more exciting than to fight for the liberty of generations yet unborn. So, while many people have laid down their lives in various different wars, whose sacrifice we honor, we need men and woman that are willing to fight the battles on the home front. We need homes that are committed to living according to the Word of God, we need churches to preach the gospel, and we need fathers that are willing to die for the liberties of their children. You have been given example. Now, go, make good on the liberty you have received. Give God whole hearted devotion, and fight. It is a time of war. The battle wages. Will you join the fight?