The Roman soldier, a centurion living in Capernaum, came to Jesus begging him to heal his servant. Jesus was willing to come to his home, but the soldier said that wouldn’t be necessary. As a leader who was under and in authority himself, he knew that all Jesus had to do was say the word, and his servant would be healed. Matthew reports that Jesus was astonished at this sincere demonstration of faith from a Gentile. He then healed the soldier’s servant (see Matt. 8:5-13).
This passage is a great example of a soldier who understood how to use the things that he learned from his military experience and integrate them with his new faith in Jesus. He illustrated three traits that all men and women who have served in the military in any capacity will have learned through training, education, and daily use: courage, selfless service, and collaboration.
By bringing these valuable qualities to our families, workplaces, churches, and communities, our veterans make a huge difference. We should be thankful for God’s work through them and honor them this Veterans Day.
Veterans are Courageous
One warrior in the Old Testament demonstrated courage in battle. He led the Israelites to defeat their enemies as they took possession of the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As they began this quest, Joshua encouraged his soldiers: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9). (It is worth noting that this is one example of what I call Immanuel Labor – God’s presence in our work).
No matter how long they served, what branch of service they joined, their rank and job specialty, were on active duty, reserves, or National Guard, or if they fought in combat operations, this group of great Americans who make up less than one percent of our population have exhibited both personal and physical courage.
It takes courage to enlist or seek a commission. You never know what is going to be expected of you. You have to be willing to change your appearance (i.e., get a haircut and wear a uniform). You will be required to wake up early to a mean drill sergeant who yells at you.
You will learn new skills that are mentally and physically challenging, that are outside your comfort zone. You may have to make hard decisions and follow orders you do not understand. You will have to make sacrifices. You may deploy overseas to fight an enemy or serve in Korea for a year without your family as I did.
After their military service is complete, these men and women of courage will be found in our workplaces. They can make hard decisions and are not afraid of hard work and difficult bosses. They can stand up for what is right. They can speak out against injustice for the last, the lost, and the least of these.
Veterans Selflessly Serve
A verse that illustrates this rare quality that all veterans learn, and which was exemplified by Jesus, is found in John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This is the ultimate example of selflessly disregarding one’s personal safety in order to protect the life of a teammate.
Those who have served in our United States military are taught in their initial entry training and education the value of setting aside their personal rights and freedoms for the sake of a greater cause. For example, consider some lyrics from the song, “American Soldier” by Toby Keith:
And I will always do my duty no matter what the price. I’ve counted up the cost. I know the sacrifice. Oh, and I don’t want to die for you, but if dying’s asked of me, I’ll bear that cross with honor, ‘cause freedom don’t come free.
Again, this looks a lot like the leadership style exemplified by Jesus, who not only died for us, but also spent his life in service to others, whether in teaching, healing, or washing his disciples’ feet.
Veterans Know How to Work as a Team
Just as the human body functions well when each part does its divinely appointed job, and just as the body of Christ grows as each member uses his or her spiritual gifts, each service branch and each military occupational specialty within that service enables the defense department to perform its critical role.
Our veterans know how their individual contributions support the mission. Each member of the team, black or white, male or female, officer or enlisted, knows the value of every other member on their team. Like parts of the human body and the church, every service member has a unique purpose. Everyone is equal in importance and knows how to treat others with dignity and respect.
We need our veterans, who know how to work as a team, to be part of our workplaces, churches, and communities.
Conclusion
I hope I painted a clear picture of the positive values our veterans bring to the table. God uses these courageous and selfless team players to show us his common grace, increasing shalom in society. They not only have been used to defend this country when needed, but they continue to be a source of blessings wherever you find them. I thank God for our veterans. I am proud to be counted among them.
The work of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, guardians (Space Force members) in the Coast Guard, and all our veterans matters to God. I encourage you to pass this message on to those whom you know and love. (Note: Please check out these previous articles on Veterans Day published on the IFWE website that were written by me in 2020, 2021, and 2022.)
