Philippians 2:1-11 KJV
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus was drafted before he was born to be the Savior of the world. There is a difference between inlisting and being drafted. Every soldier in America either served because of a draft or deciding to enlistment. Often young men and now definitely women make a choice of whether they fight for freedom, or whether they do their call in a field less nobel, but with honor. How veterans were called defines sometimes if they serve willingly or unwillingly, only based on their duty to serve and give honor to the role of being called a soldier. No one wants to be forced into battle. No one likes being in a classroom to learn unless they love learning. Yet the classroom does not prepare one to stand and fight to the death. When one is called up they know that they maybe going to their death even in the field of training. Your body put to the test of ability to survive on the battle field with new knowledge of trained skills. The war department does not just put people out there hoping they will survive, however at one time that was probably true, but times have changed and people must be trained to endure. To endure the harshness of the environment they are sent to as well as the combat zone of war.

If a military personal could be ask would you still be enlisted, they perhaps would tell you yes, but others perhaps would say I just doing my duty until my time is up. Faith can be a call up, or an enlistment. It can be a decision of faith, or the will of God. The will God being greater then our decisions, but our decisions matter. There those drafted by God to do his will, only hate God and become the enemies of God. Satan wanted a name above every name and exalted himself and his beauty only to be cast down from heaven, becoming an enemy of God instead of angel of glory and some of his followers were casted down with him to face the world and the place called hell and will face the place called the eternal lake of fire where hell and those that lived there will be cast out into the lake of fire.

I do not doubt any military hero even of our day or yesterday that have not face war would not say they feel they gone through the fires of hell and back. Yet the truth being are they strong enough to face the battle, some are and some are left to die not by choice but the will of government who seek to win. The weaker soldier no matter how strong, will not survive in battle. Weakened by wounding if untreated will not face another war and might not anyway if injury is severe enough.

I remember going into a resturaunt and being taken back how young our soldiers looked that were in training. Just young people out of high school going off to war perhaps, or to more training. Perhaps some taking to the military for adventure, for stories of valor they heard, and perhaps just because they love their country, but did they know on the day the signed up they could die for our country and our freedom. Do they even understand what our freedom is about. Have they only wet their toes into adult life. Yet they go without question, without regard of their own human life.

Christ was not only ordained to his call, but he had to accept his call, as he was baptized in the river of Jordan where John was baptizing. God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and the words from heaven from his Father, I am will pleased as one like a dove descended down. Did Jesus know what his cross was, did he understand the battle call at 33. I believe he did because of who he was not because of who man would of understood him to be. In our finite minds we might see Christ humanity as he steps up to the plate as a soldier of God, teaching, preaching, healing, and demonstrating his power, but the final battle of the cross where he would loose his life for all, to redeem our life through the cross and resurrection and be exalted by God the Father and given a name above all names his name being Jesus. Every knee will one day bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Yet the human soldier of man's war persecuted by war, might never see the light of day once more, but hopefully the light of heaven. Spiritual warrior battle is different then the soldier of the battle of our countries. Yet both soldier and Christ would die for the people of the world. One soldier dying in fame by those knowing their name, and Christ dying in fame, only to rise in fame for the earth to know he is risen As the Lord of Lords. The unknown soldier with no name, still given metals of honor and wreaths upon their tombs, without knowing who they were, but each one that see the grave knows that one probably died trying to save their life too.

The persecution of those that follow the cross, that follow into battlefield of war, often their names are not known, but their cross to carry the torch of freedom still rings out. For those in Christ also carry the torch of freedom, the message that Christ has set us free, only to die because of who we are, the persecuted of faith with a message of freedom. We sit and pray and hope our soldiers return. We pray now even their families return home. For the believer home is in heaven, and those that have gone before us in spiritual battle still live on. The soldier in the battle field of our country live or die, their memories continue, even in their journey home, many wrecked by the sights and sounds of war. Their mind not able to wrap around the things they saw or see. Yet they stand tall as the world salutes them on Veterans Day, or they are honor by flags and flowers on their graves.

One day the world will salute King Jesus for setting man free from sin in one accord. On that day we will understand the word freedom a little bit more. For Christ has set us free through faith in him. Turning away from sin and repenting of sin just part of the act of receiving our salvation. To understand when we receive our salvation we are entering the training course of the Holy Spirit, who will guide and teach each of us all truth. For the soldier they head to boot camp, ready to learn skills they never thought they could learn, there limits even push a little further. The yoke and burden of taking up our own cross and follow Jesus, is light, but we will see the work of the Father, even in our own life.

Let us sing the battle hymns of faith, but also the battle hymns of our country. Let us not forget the reason why young men and women accept their call. Or the reason they return home wounded, some alive and others loosing their life for us. Let us not forget the victory of faith Jesus proved with his resurrection and give honor and glory due his name. Let us not forget the men and women that fight for us for freedom this Veterans day. They do their best to keep us safe in a world that would desire to destroy our freedom.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for the men and women that die in persecution of our freedom, for we did not fight to gain land, but help others in need of our aid. Let us not forget the freedom Christ gives to us as we join his war agains the enemy the devil today. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Matthew 5:10-12 KJV
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.