A HEART GUARDED BY THE PEACE OF GOD
J.D. Ketterman, LCDR, USN (RET)
Today’s Scripture: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7, ESV
Theme: The courage to make hard choices, based on what you feel God requires of you, brings the peace of God, even it appears you have made a mistake.
LIFE AND DEATH DECISIONS
As the naval and merchant convoy in the movie Greyhound were crossing the area with no air coverage, hard choices had to be made; choices that meant life or death to those in his charge. The convoy had entered ‘the pit’ and had been warned by the Admiralty’s enemy radio intercepts that the wolf pack was closing in. The Captain knew the worst could happen and if it did, his heart and mind must stay focused on the mission.
A LIFE OF SACRIFICE
In World War 2, the branch of the military with the highest percentage of casualties was the Merchant Marine. Their ships were scantily armed, minimally crewed, lightly armored, and extremely fat and slow: easy targets if detected. If they sustained major damage, they either sank or were left behind as they could not keep up. The Merchant Marine was vital to keep our troops and our allies supplied. Greyhound had to get as many ships though as possible with the scant resources he had.
The horrors of this battle could be seen through the clouds as ship after ship were hit by torpedoes, caught fire, or exploded. There were minor collisions and friendly fire incidents. Spot decisions had to be made as to whether to stop and rescue survivors or speed off to hunt the subs; break radio silence; shutdown equipment for repairs; abandon ship; etc. Losses had to be accepted to maintain focus on the mission. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7, ESV. Through it all, the Captain would stop, contemplate the situation, and listen to God. Through it all, he relied upon God’s protection as he remained steadfast in his faith. He was not debilitated by guilt when he lost crew members or ships, but kept listening and doing the best he could, following God’s guidance.
Make It Personal: We are all faced with our own wolf pack, the ‘what ifs’ and the complications in making decisions. We must have faith that Jesus is with us always. He is our friend, our confidant, our advisor, our advocate… our Everything that is good and righteous. Therefore, “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12, ESV).
Prayer: Lord, help us to have our hearts fixed on You with the faith that You are with us, always. Guide our hearts and minds to find strength and comfort in Your Spirit of peaceful confidence. May the Spirit shine through us for all to see, even during difficult choices; even amid death. We ask this in your Holy Name. Amen
Read: Deuteronomy 31:6, Philippians 4:11-13; Joshua 1:9; Ephesians 6:10-20
Weekly Memory Verse: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8, ESV