No Man Left Behind

In the movie Toy Story, one of the little green army guys gets stepped on by Andy’s mom. As they rush to hide in a nearby plant, the Sargent of the little green army guys notices that there is a soldier down and goes back to get him. The soldier tells them to go on without him, but the Sargent says they “Leave No Man Behind”. I love that part of the movie. While very funny (because we’ve all stepped on one of those little green army dudes), it is also something I am passionate about. While I’ve never been in the armed forces, I believe that each of us that calls ourselves Christians are in the Lords Army (insert cheesy kids song here). Because we are in the Lords army, we are under attack.

Even the best soldiers fall sometimes.

Maybe you’ve been there – you open that email, get that phone call or hear that news. Someone you know has fallen to sin. What is our response? After the shock or the hurt or the disappointment wears off, where do we go? Maybe you’re the one that was the subject of that email/call/news. What is your fear at that point? What does your heart hope for most at that moment? Here is my question….

Am I wrong in believing that offering grace doesn’t end when someone gets “saved”

In other words, the Army of God is awesome when it comes to grace for the sinner. I wonder sometimes if we’re not so awesome when it comes to grace for the saved. While I don’t want to give a free pass to sin, I would say that the attacks don’t stop. I might even argue that it get’s tougher when we are covered by the blood of our Savior. This is where I’m challenged to take the “No Man Left Behind” pledge. When a brother or sister in Christ falls, we should be so committed that we don’t leave them behind. Our words, actions and judgment are not what they need. They need fellow soldiers to lead them to a place of restoration and healing. God doesn’t give up on them and we shouldn’t either.

The Ranger Creed 5th Stanza
Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.