THE GREATEST COMMANDER OF ALL

“Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.”

Deuteronomy 4:1

King James Version

As we remember the brave men and women who gave their lives for their country, let us also remember the greatest Commander of all, Jesus.  He not only gave His life for our country, He also gave His life for every person in the world.

We read in the Bible.  “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left” (Luke 23:33).  Pastor E. Taylor Cassel wrote one of my favorite hymns “Loyalty to Christ”. 

Are we doing what the words in this hymn tell us to do?  “On to victory! On to victory! Cries our great commander, On! We’ll move at His command, We’ll soon possess the land, Through loyalty, loyalty, Yes, loyalty to Christ.”

It is so easy when satan attacks us with lies and other vicious attacks and we get discouraged and we feel like going to bed and staying there just to give up and stop serving Jesus.  We must not let that happen.  We must stay on the battlefield for Jesus just as He stayed on the cross for us.

What would have happened if Jesus hadn’t stayed on the cross for us?  We wouldn’t have a way to have our sins forgiven, and have Jesus for our Saviour and go to Heaven when we die.  Thank God for the precious blood of Jesus that takes away our sins.

Robert Lowry wrote one of my favorite hymns “Nothing but the blood of Jesus”.  “Nothing can for sin atone:  nothing but the blood of Jesus. Naught of good that I have done: nothing but the blood of Jesus.”  Have you allowed Jesus to take away your sins with His blood?  If not, I urge you to do it today before it is too late.

We must be loyal to Jesus and spread His unconditional love to all we see.  There are many people who are hurting, lonely, sad, discouraged and who feel like giving up and some who feel so alone and feel that nobody loves them that they are even thinking about committing suicide.

If we want to honor Jesus, we need to be kind and loving to people and let them know that Jesus loves them unconditionally.  However, it is not enough to just tell them He loves them, we must prove that He loves them by our kind and loving actions.

When is the last time you hugged someone for Jesus?  You may not be comfortable hugging people but you can hug them with your kind words.  Remember, when we are kind and loving to people, we are being kind and loving to Jesus.  We read in the Bible. 

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).  Are you being kind and loving to Jesus or are you hurting Him and breaking His heart?

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus Who is the greatest Commander of all.  Please encourage and comfort everyone who has lost loved ones in the service of their country.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 27, 2019