Today is Veterans Day (and in the UK Remembrance Day). At 11 AM on the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice brought an end to the First World War. That war and its encore 20 years later in the Second World War led to a massive loss of life. Since then our troops have fought in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, among other conflicts, including the more recent war on terror.

In scripture the "power of the sword" is given to the state as a "minister of God" to preserve peace and protect the innocent. Today we are grateful for those who have laid down their lives so we can enjoy the freedoms enshrined in our constitution. And we express our continuing gratitude to those who are first responders and to those in the military who stand on guard ready to act in our defense. Our prayer today is that they would be protected in all their duties; that they would find personal solace in the gospel; that they would be appropriately supported in their task by our government; and be generally respected and cared for by their fellow countrymen. Above all we pray for the day when our Lord shall return to punish all evil and cause an end to war and the turning of weapons of battle into instruments of peace.

Until that day we pause to reflect and pray and be grateful. May God graciously bless these United States of America.