Colossians 3:12-14
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Greg and I watched a story on ABC’s Good Morning America today about the return to Normandy, France, of veterans who landed on Omaha Beach 80 years ago this week. Ninety-nine-year-old Felix Maurizio is one of the sixty-seven WWII heroes that American Airlines flew to France for this commemorative event. Maurizio manned a Naval landing craft in the English Channel, dropping American soldiers off to battle on Normandy Beach. One of these soldiers was his own brother, Salvatore, who was part of the Army Infantry.
Maurizio says he is not ashamed to admit that he was “crying like a baby” as he told his brother to “Keep your head low.” Felix Maurizio did not see Salvatore again until the end of the war. The brothers had planned to return to France together, but Salvatore died, and they never got to go. Felix said of his return, “I am thinking about the twelve men that were my buddies that were killed. But I was fortunate…I guess God just saved my life.” Felix Maurizio humbly noted that during his military service, the freedom of our country was his main concern.
As present-day soldiers walked Felix Maurizio to the shoreline, he tearfully remembered the soldier beside him who was hit by machine gun shells. Maurizio said it is critical that none of us ever forget the 2400 casualties on Normandy Beach. Felix said he was never sure he wanted to come back to France, but he is glad that he did. And we are fortunate that reporter Lara Spencer and ABC’s Good Morning America shared his story with us.
When I read today’s passage from Colossians, I thought about the thousands of soldiers who have humbly and unassumingly done their job to protect and serve our country – and those who continue to do so this very day. How are we honoring them? Are we living, speaking, and acting in a manner worthy of their sacrifice? Are we demonstrating the “wardrobe” that Paul speaks of in this passage? Would Felix and Salvatore Maurizio and others look at us today and declare that we were worth the fight and sacrifice? More importantly, what would Jesus say?
Let’s think about what we are “wearing” today – and whether we are behaving in a manner that is worth the fight of our soldiers and others in service to our country. Let’s ask ourselves whether the thoughts, words, and actions that comprise our “wardrobe” glorify God and demonstrate faithful, humble allegiance to Him. If the answer is “Yes,” then the “sacrifice” is worthwhile. If there is any question, perhaps this is the day for a good old “closet cleaning!” Alleluia!
©2024 Debbie Robus
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