Win Some, Lose Some

TITLE: Win Some,  Lose Some
DATE: March 18, 2019
TEXT: Matthew 10:16 – ESV - Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
​
The title of this devo is “Win Some, Lose Some.”

First we deal with the “Lose Some.”

Last year the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire put up a display honoring the nation’s POW’s and missing Vets. The display was called “The Missing Man.”

If you had passed by the display you would have seen an empty chair placed at a kitchen table. On the table was a plate, a drinking glass, a candle, a flower, an American flag and a salt shaker. Oh, there was also a Bible on the table.

Not just any Bible… but a Bible which was carried by a POW in World War II.

But the Bible is gone now. There was a complaint… a complaint from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. The President of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation said “it is promoting.. one faith over another faith.”

Of course, it could be that it is promoting  the religion which many POW’s have said was a great blessing to them… and since most POW’s were Christian, it is only normal that the sacred book of those believers would be the Holy Scripture.

Well, the Bible is gone now. As I said, “You lose some.” …..But you also win some.

The hospital transferred the Bible from the Missing Man display to a glass case in the vestibule. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation says that still is a problem. Indeed, they say some 14 vets have lodged a complaint.

On the other hand, the group which was responsible for putting the Bible on the display have countered. They say, they are not stuffing religion down someone’s throat. What they are doing is putting on display an important relic. The Bible was the way, “this guy held on to a lot of faith and hope, family and trust in this nation that they would do everything they possibly could to bring him home.”

But the hospital says, “the Bible will remain where it is.” They said, they “consulted with appropriate legal counsel before placing this treasured WWII artifact, which happens to be a Bible, in the display. It is confident that this does not impinge on Constitutional protections.”

You win some.

So what does that prove? It proves that when we witness to the Savior, we will face opposition. When that happens we can throw up our hands and give up… or we can get smart. That is what Paul did when he used his Roman citizenship. It is what we can do, too. We will win some and we will lose some, but either way the Lord’s Story will be told.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I am a sheep in the midst of wolves. When I witness to You as Savior make me as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove. In the Savior’s Name I pray. Amen.

Today’s devotion was inspired by various articles, amongst which is the one written by Michael Foust for Christian Headlines on March 1, 2918.  Those who wish may check out this link which was, at the time of writing, fully active: https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/historic-wwii-bible-removed-from-veterans-hospital-display-after-complaint.html

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He with his extended family have a great witness. This song comes from the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html