Great Love, because of the Greatest Love

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13

On this day when many of us are occupied with chocolate, candy, and all things red and pink, I would like to share with you some prayer requests from a fellow member of my church who is serving with the U.S. Marines in Iraq. His name is Gary, and I found his prayer card at church:

• That God will use whatever instrument, my unit included, as a means to restrain the lawless deeds of lawless men and then providentially open a door for others to bring the Gospel to the people in the area
• That I may lead my Marines and obey my commanders well so that in every case I may honor the Lord through my service and earn the right to speak of Him to others
• That if I must fire my weapon, it will never be in anger or out of hatred for my enemy. And also, that if I must fire my weapon, that I will shoot straight and hit every target center mass.
• That if I die, my parents may find comfort in the Scriptures and the saints so that they might not grumble against the Lord.
• That if I do not die, but am physically maimed, that I will find comfort in the Scripture and the saints so that I might not grumble against the Lord.
• That God will grant our nation repentance. For if we are to be an instrument to judge another nation, we must all the more be a just people ourselves unless we desire the justice of God against us.
• That I do not cease to pray for the saints at Immanuel Baptist Church.

• Pray also for Gary and his unit’s safe return.

May we pray for Gary and all the other men and women who are serving in dangerous places for our freedom and that of the oppressed. Their love for country and God is an example to us all.