At All Costs

"At All Costs"

One of the most heroic events of World War II took place in the Philippines in 1945. On the night of February 2, 1945, 900 men of the 8th Cavalry Regiment dashed through 60 miles of enemy territory (held by 50,000 Japanese soldiers) straight into the city of Manila. They were under orders to take both the civilian and military prisons and hold them at all costs until the army could reach them.

For three long weeks those 900 men held the prisons against furious counterattacks by a determined Japanese army, saving the lives of more than 4,000 prisoners. The story's impact on me was heightened by the fact that the writer of the story was the son of parents who who were both rescued by those brave soldiers.

It reminded me of the men in II Samuel 23:14-17 who broke through the Philistine lines to draw water from a well for King David. They risked their lives for the sake of the king they loved.

In the New Testament, it is said of Paul and Barnabas that they were men "who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ". I John 3:16 tells us "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."

While most of us will never fight with natural weapons, there are, nonetheless, battles to be fought, men, women and children to be rescued, defended and saved from the enemy. The battles we are called to will be fought on the battlefield of prayer and our greatest weapon will be the Word of God spoken over the lives of our children, family members, and friends. Each of us will be required to lay down our lives, to sacrifice comfort and convenience for the sake of winning the battle for the souls of those we love and for the cause of Christ.

We are told to defend the cause of the weak and fatherless, to rescue the weak and needy (Psalm 82:3-4). The men of the 8th Calvary Regiment provide us an example of sacrifice, of courage, and of sustained heroism that we can learn from. In the face of fierce enemy attacks, they stood firm and rescued many people. Your life can have that same significance if you will choose to fight the battles the Lord is calling you to.

God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church