“Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ…”. Jude1-2
I was having breakfast with a brother in a one-on-one meeting for discipleship, when he commented on the newness of my U.S. Army veterans baseball cap. I told him that it was a replacement, since my old one was worn out. I had ordered it on Amazon. He asked me, “Can anybody order one that way, even though they’re not a veteran?” I said “Sure. But they run the risk of being asked ‘Where did you serve?’ ”
A true veteran will automatically, without thinking about it, say their unit and posting. For example, our brother Rodney Riddle wore his U.S. Army veteran cap with regularity. You could not leave the church without his handshake and warm smile beaming up from his wheelchair to greet you. When I first met him, years ago, I asked him where did he serve? Without hesitation he said “558 Military Police, Northpoint, Germany”. To which I responded , “731st General Dispensary, at Hohenfels, Germany!” Immediately, there was a connection. The shared experience of the hardships of boot camp is universal among veterans. The obstacle course, P.T. and running in response to the drill sergeant”s cadence (“P.T.!, P.T.! Good for you! Good for me! “), and the drill field where we learned the manual of arms.
Almost without exception, whenever I meet a fellow veteran, they have told me, as did Rodney, that they miss the camaraderie that comes with a common mission and a common purpose.
The pretenders, when asked the same question, are are at loss for words. No shared experiences. No camaraderie. Their silence exposing them as imposters. And for them, it is just another baseball cap, like any other.
The letter of Jude was written to veteran believers who connected on the basis of their “common salvation. “ It was an exhortation to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”
Jude was the half-brother of Jesus, (Mark 6:3) , but instead referred to himself as the bond-servant of Jesus Christ. The New Testament refers to us “Christians” only 3 times, but refers
to us as “saints” 67 times. Saint means “set
apart, belonging to Him”.
“Doulos” is the Greek word for “bond-servant, a voluntary commitment based on love.” “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus…” says 2 Timothy 2:3. The Cross is part of our basic training, without exception. We are all going to have our devotion tested in a myriad of ways.
The military veteran has demonstrated their love and commitment for country. Some at the expense of their limbs, and disfiguring burn injuries. Some with hidden injuries such as the mental trauma of PTSD. And some gave “the last full measure of devotion.”
Veteran disciples have demonstrated their love for God. There are no ribbons or medals to reward their service. No parades to honor their intercession in prayer, some pleading through the night, as they do battle with the forces of darkness. But it isn’t lost on the One who enlisted them to be soldier in His Army:
“ For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me…..Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”
Matt. 25: 35-40
When we take communion with Christ’s disciples, we acknowledge that we share a common love of Christ. We have come to the table by way of the Cross—our same basic training. We have the same mission and purpose that unites us, and that is the basis for our fellowship.
Veteran disciples don’t want accolades from our fellow man. But with our whole heart we long to hear the Lord Jesus say ,“Well done my good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Master.” And that will be reward enough for Rodney, and for us.
Question to Think About?
I was having breakfast with a brother in a one-on-one meeting for discipleship, when he commented on the newness of my U.S. Army veterans baseball cap. I told him that it was a replacement, since my old one was worn out. I had ordered it on Amazon. He asked me, “Can anybody order one that way, even though they’re not a veteran?” I said “Sure. But they run the risk of being asked ‘Where did you serve?’ ”
A true veteran will automatically, without thinking about it, say their unit and posting. For example, our brother Rodney Riddle wore his U.S. Army veteran cap with regularity. You could not leave the church without his handshake and warm smile beaming up from his wheelchair to greet you. When I first met him, years ago, I asked him where did he serve? Without hesitation he said “558 Military Police, Northpoint, Germany”. To which I responded , “731st General Dispensary, at Hohenfels, Germany!” Immediately, there was a connection. The shared experience of the hardships of boot camp is universal among veterans. The obstacle course, P.T. and running in response to the drill sergeant”s cadence (“P.T.!, P.T.! Good for you! Good for me! “), and the drill field where we learned the manual of arms.
Almost without exception, whenever I meet a fellow veteran, they have told me, as did Rodney, that they miss the camaraderie that comes with a common mission and a common purpose.
The pretenders, when asked the same question, are are at loss for words. No shared experiences. No camaraderie. Their silence exposing them as imposters. And for them, it is just another baseball cap, like any other.
The letter of Jude was written to veteran believers who connected on the basis of their “common salvation. “ It was an exhortation to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”
Jude was the half-brother of Jesus, (Mark 6:3) , but instead referred to himself as the bond-servant of Jesus Christ. The New Testament refers to us “Christians” only 3 times, but refers
to us as “saints” 67 times. Saint means “set
apart, belonging to Him”.
“Doulos” is the Greek word for “bond-servant, a voluntary commitment based on love.” “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus…” says 2 Timothy 2:3. The Cross is part of our basic training, without exception. We are all going to have our devotion tested in a myriad of ways.
The military veteran has demonstrated their love and commitment for country. Some at the expense of their limbs, and disfiguring burn injuries. Some with hidden injuries such as the mental trauma of PTSD. And some gave “the last full measure of devotion.”
Veteran disciples have demonstrated their love for God. There are no ribbons or medals to reward their service. No parades to honor their intercession in prayer, some pleading through the night, as they do battle with the forces of darkness. But it isn’t lost on the One who enlisted them to be soldier in His Army:
“ For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me…..Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”
Matt. 25: 35-40
When we take communion with Christ’s disciples, we acknowledge that we share a common love of Christ. We have come to the table by way of the Cross—our same basic training. We have the same mission and purpose that unites us, and that is the basis for our fellowship.
Veteran disciples don’t want accolades from our fellow man. But with our whole heart we long to hear the Lord Jesus say ,“Well done my good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Master.” And that will be reward enough for Rodney, and for us.
Question to Think About?
- How do you respond to the love of God in evidence in Psalm 91:14-16?
- Do you respond with increased devotion, or are you just "wearing the baseball cap”?
Posted in Thank You For Your Service