Devotions: In My Father's Footsteps
Nearly every week, Rev. Ed Blonski writes and sends out a devotion via email. To
subscribe, fill out the form below.
subscribe, fill out the form below.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Check out the other True
Men Ministries Devotions
and Bible Studies.
Men Ministries Devotions
and Bible Studies.
This devotion is an excerpt from a sermon that Ed Blonski preached for a funeral of a World War II-
era gentlemen.
They have been called the “The Greatest Generation.” The men and women who served their country
during World War II, both here at home and oversees. Tom Brokaw said, “that the soldiers fought
not for the fame and recognition, but because it was the right thing to do.”
When the soldiers came home, they went to work building and rebuilding America. Many have said
that they “saved the world.” I believe that is true to a certain extent. Men like John are heroes. But
men like John would be the first to argue with you if you called them that.
In the movie Band of Brothers – at the end – one of the soldiers relates the story of his grandson
asking him, “Grandpa, were you a hero is the war?” He answers his grandson, “No, but I served with
heroes.”
It was the way of that generation to not talk about their experiences in the war. From those who
have finally opened up about their experiences, we get a glimpse as to why men like John didn’t
want to talk about it. They simply felt that they had a job to do and they went and did it, got it
done and came home to resume their life. Certainly, many of them witnessed horrific things – that is
the nature of war. But it was their way to not talk about what they did, rather to simply do it.
That was John. He lived his life and he lived his faith just that way – he didn’t really talk about it, he
went and did it.
That is the way of faith as well. Yes, we do spend a lot of time talking about Jesus Christ. And that’s
a good thing, don’t get me wrong. But when it comes to the most effective way of “telling” others
about Jesus, John and the “Greatest Generation” teach us that doing is better than saying. John
didn’t talk about his experiences during the war. But that didn’t change what he did.
When it comes to Jesus, he certainly had some things to say. But it was what Jesus did that made
all the difference. Which is somewhat ironic, in that today’s world most people don’t have a problem
with what Jesus’ said or taught, but dismiss the fact that what He did was important – namely dying
on the cross and rising from the dead.
The teachings of Jesus are so very important. His teachings – along with the rest of Scripture – give
us our source of life in this life. Things like “love your neighbor” and “honor your father and mother”
are lasting lessons for our whole lives – and something that John taught us with his life.
But even more important was what Jesus did. He lived a perfect life, He died on a cross. Three days
later He rose from the dead. This is what Jesus’ did that makes why we are here today a good thing.
Jesus’ death and resurrection assures us that we will live in paradise forever! That’s where John is
right now.
It is up to us to follow in John’s footsteps. Live a life of faith – following the lessons of Jesus’
teachings. Follow also in John’s footsteps of telling others about Jesus. Through telling, inviting to
worship and Bible study. But also through work and play. While I didn’t know John except in the last
two years of his life, I suspect that when John was working at General Dynamics and during his
service to our country in World War II, he was also living his faith in Jesus. That is the most
powerful way to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ – through our actions, the way we live our
everyday lives.
©2008 True Men Ministries.
era gentlemen.
They have been called the “The Greatest Generation.” The men and women who served their country
during World War II, both here at home and oversees. Tom Brokaw said, “that the soldiers fought
not for the fame and recognition, but because it was the right thing to do.”
When the soldiers came home, they went to work building and rebuilding America. Many have said
that they “saved the world.” I believe that is true to a certain extent. Men like John are heroes. But
men like John would be the first to argue with you if you called them that.
In the movie Band of Brothers – at the end – one of the soldiers relates the story of his grandson
asking him, “Grandpa, were you a hero is the war?” He answers his grandson, “No, but I served with
heroes.”
It was the way of that generation to not talk about their experiences in the war. From those who
have finally opened up about their experiences, we get a glimpse as to why men like John didn’t
want to talk about it. They simply felt that they had a job to do and they went and did it, got it
done and came home to resume their life. Certainly, many of them witnessed horrific things – that is
the nature of war. But it was their way to not talk about what they did, rather to simply do it.
That was John. He lived his life and he lived his faith just that way – he didn’t really talk about it, he
went and did it.
That is the way of faith as well. Yes, we do spend a lot of time talking about Jesus Christ. And that’s
a good thing, don’t get me wrong. But when it comes to the most effective way of “telling” others
about Jesus, John and the “Greatest Generation” teach us that doing is better than saying. John
didn’t talk about his experiences during the war. But that didn’t change what he did.
When it comes to Jesus, he certainly had some things to say. But it was what Jesus did that made
all the difference. Which is somewhat ironic, in that today’s world most people don’t have a problem
with what Jesus’ said or taught, but dismiss the fact that what He did was important – namely dying
on the cross and rising from the dead.
The teachings of Jesus are so very important. His teachings – along with the rest of Scripture – give
us our source of life in this life. Things like “love your neighbor” and “honor your father and mother”
are lasting lessons for our whole lives – and something that John taught us with his life.
But even more important was what Jesus did. He lived a perfect life, He died on a cross. Three days
later He rose from the dead. This is what Jesus’ did that makes why we are here today a good thing.
Jesus’ death and resurrection assures us that we will live in paradise forever! That’s where John is
right now.
It is up to us to follow in John’s footsteps. Live a life of faith – following the lessons of Jesus’
teachings. Follow also in John’s footsteps of telling others about Jesus. Through telling, inviting to
worship and Bible study. But also through work and play. While I didn’t know John except in the last
two years of his life, I suspect that when John was working at General Dynamics and during his
service to our country in World War II, he was also living his faith in Jesus. That is the most
powerful way to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ – through our actions, the way we live our
everyday lives.
©2008 True Men Ministries.
A sample of the "In My Father's Footsteps" Devotion