It is hard to put into words what it was like to hear from our Ukrainian brother Alex “Sasha” Misiats on Sunday night.
On the one hand, it was riveting to hear from someone who is a native with firsthand knowledge about the people, the land, and the history of the Ukraine. So many of us are curious and thirsty for trustworthy information and insight.
On the other hand, it was heartrending to hear about the terror and brutality of war. What a nightmare. Those of us who only know of the ugliness of war secondhand should be grateful and consider ourselves to be supremely blessed.
Among the many things Sasha mentioned, one item that stood out to me was the way local, untrained citizens were taking it upon themselves to defend their homes. He mentioned that there were different types (or levels) of defense.
Outside the towns and cities, soldiers are doing their best to keep the invaders out.
Inside the towns and cities, regular citizens are doing anything and everything they can to defend their families. They are actually scouring the dumpsters for bottles that can be used to make Molotov cocktails (homemade bombs). This borders on being beyond my ability to imagine. This is what happens in movies, not to people you know.
I am thankful that we have the opportunity to help. We can give. We can pray.
We can also learn spiritual lessons.
Paul said that he was “…put here for the defense of the gospel”(Phil. 1:16). There are different types/levels of spiritual defense for us against the enemy.
Prayer (1 Thess. 5:17) – Study (2 Tim. 2:15) – Worship (Heb. 10:24-25) – Fellowship (Acts 2:46-47)
I pray that you and I never experience the need to wear body armor like they are doing in the Ukraine. I also pray we are wise enough to be wearing our spiritual armor at all times. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Eph. 6:13)
