Some Gave All

“If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?” ― David Livingstone

With the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion looming, many documentaries have aired recounting the heroic, inspiring, and excruciating sacrifices of June 6, 1944.

One program interviewed three U.S. Army Rangers who scaled the 100-foot (30-meter) cliffs of Pointe du Hoc to silence six large Nazi guns intended to destroy the warriors landing on Omaha and Utah Beaches. The interviewer asked one of the now elderly men, “Were you scared?” His response was powerful and inspiring. “Of course, we were scared, but we had a mission to accomplish so we just kept going. We were not going to let anything stop us.”

135 of the 225 Rangers were killed or wounded in the assault.

Focusing on our mission and committing to doing our job – no matter what – helps us fight through the pain and distractions that life throws our way. Paul explained this challenge to the Romans: ”…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1).

Our mission – to live the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) and fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) – is clear. The obstacles may be daunting, attacks unrelenting, and challenges overwhelming, but keep going. Our ultimate victory is secure.