Are You Combat Wounded?

by Wade B. Mumm, PhD.

Author's Note:  Much is influencing us these days; our culture, our government, friends, family, but, what about the influence of God on our lives?  Shouldn't He be influencing everything?  Even the most mundane activities should be under His influence.  So, my question for you is R U Influenced?  Please consider my thoughts on His influence for this month...

We are used to seeing older ones.  Ones that are worn with scratched paint.  However, these days, with wars raging in both Iraq and Afghanistan, we are seeing fresh clean new ones and it breaks my heart because their owners are so young.  To what am I referring?  License plates.  You know, the type that are issued to our combat-wounded veterans complete with an image of a purple heart medal.  Having served in the U.S. Army, I, as you probably do, have a special place in my heart for those who have been wounded fighting our nation’s wars.  Despite their obvious physical challenges, I am amazed how these young warriors talk of running marathons on prosthetics and traveling the world despite their combat incurred injuries. 

In reality, many of us could wear our own “combat-wounded” plates, not on our cars, but on our backs and not for the physical battles we have fought, but for the wounds on our inside from this battle we call “life.”  Our injuries may have resulted from verbal lashings by a drunken parent or from the failed marriage instead of a sniper’s round.  As a pastor, I have found men and women, well in the fifties and sixties, who are still carrying their inner wounds from injuries many, many years ago.  In fact, their entire lives have been defined by the hurt.  Here’s the deal, no person need carry his or her injuries any longer because Jesus Christ has already voluntarily taken them upon Himself.  A man need only to let go and hand the wounds to Christ.  Scripture explains it in I Peter 2:24 (NIV) “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” 

Why not remove the “wounded tag” today and hand it to Him?

wade.

PS – Don’t forget, November 11^th is Veteran’s Day.  Why not tell the Vets you know thanks for their service?

Comments

[David.Allen@allengroupe.com]

Wade,

This is very powerful and such an important lesson to be reminded and to practice.

Thank you,

David

[Margarita]

My email chg I was told CPR classes r still in effect. Please kindly notify me. Thank you kindly God Bess