Psalm 127:4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.

Matt Stutzman is a Para-Olympic archer who won the gold medal in the 2024 Para-Olympic games. What is so amazing about his story is that he was born without arms. This inspirational man demonstrated not only could he compete in a sport no one would ever imagine he could but exceled. This is an example of the warrior spirit.

We as Christians are called to be warriors for God. We are soldiers in His army. Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age and against spiritual wickedness. Are you prepared to carry out the orders of God? Do you even know the battle plan? We are to take His word to the world. We are to do this in a loving and graceful way. Jesus is our example.

We are not to talk down to people, we are not to chastise them nor berate them. Their rules are different then ours. They will do the above but act in a more vile way. This is their battle cry. It is about hate and death. We are bringers of light and salt. Light makes the darkness run and salt flavors. We take on these qualities but do it from a place of love. We live this out and let people see what Jesus can do in their lives by our example.

I know we have witnessed a brother in Christ and a great Christian man be martyred this week. We should not seek vengeance, we should seek to further Jesus and His message. This is the will of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Take the anger and frustration you feel and use it to seek out opportunities to share Jesus. One day if we are obedient to this we will hear the same words Charlie heard, “Well done good and faithful servant!”