During basic training, Desmond Doss irritated his drill instructor and
fellow soldiers. A pacifist by conviction, he refused to carry a weapon into
battle, and this made his peers doubt his courage. Trained as a medic, the
young Christian had no qualms about facing combat. But his goal was to save lives.
Doubts about Doss would change, however, when his military unit faced
combat. During the World War II Battle of Okinawa, he ducked under machine gun
fire to pull the wounded to safety. He prayed, “Lord, give me the strength to
save just one more wounded soldier.” Eventually he lowered more than 70 injured
men down a hill for further medical attention. For his efforts, Desmond Doss
was awarded the Medal of Honor—the highest honor his country could bestow.
Scripture tells of another Christian who took great personal risks to
help others. Of Epaphroditus, Paul wrote, “Hold such men in esteem; because for
the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life” (Phil.
2:29-30).
Around the world today, many believers risk their lives for the cause of
Christ. Let’s pray that our God will protect them as they serve Him under
threatening circumstances.
Courage is not having strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have the strength. (RBC)
