Veteran's Day

John 15:13, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Today is the day that we remember the men and women who serve and have served in our military. This is Veteran’s Day. This is the day that we recognize those men and women who willingly step into harm’s way for us. So I thought it fitting to print the “Oath of Enlistment.” Here it is:

"I, American soldier’s name, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

There is no equivocation about duty. There is no parsing of responsibility. When I read Jesus’ words about the greatest love His words sound like this promise to defend the Constitution the preamble of which reads, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” They provide for the common ‘defence’ and ‘secure the blessings of Liberty’ with their lives if need be. When ordered to fight these men and women have and will fight our enemies foreign and domestic and they have and will again lay down their lives for us. There is no greater love – just look at the intent in that oath of enlistment, an intent rarely spoken of but held closely in each one’s heart.

This is the American soldier – the veteran. Thank a veteran today – their humility may shock you but it will never harm you.

Prayer: Thank You God for this day and thank You for Jesus. Thank You for the brave men and women who have served this nation in our defense and in defense of our friends - for there is no greater love than to give one’s life for another. Help us always remember in Jesus Name we pray. Amen.