Veteran

Someone's son or daughter chose to fight for you. They stepped out in faith and duty and chose to fight for your freedoms. A selfless act that comes not out of personal or political gain but out of a desire to serve and sacrifice. Give thanks today for the people with strength and courage to serve in battles we are not strong enough to fight.

^{Hebrews 11:32}-40 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Not alone. It is a surprise when reading Hebrews 11 to come to the last two verses. With all the faith they had to fight the battles they had not known Christ but together with us they will be made perfect.

Despite all of the service, sacrifice and faith it is still about us as a whole. It isn't about the individual, it is a battle won together as a Body of believers.

^{1 John 5:3-5}This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.