Warrior of Words

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  • The Friend Who Calls Us by Name

    Sitting in the living room of our temporary apartment, my husband napping on the couch beside me, I thought about how fast this mission trip had gone. We had spoken in different churches, Fred had taught in two Bible schools, and I had spoken at two ladies’ conferences. Fred had also checked on the orphanage. Along the way, we fellowshipped with dear friends—relationships forged over years of shared faith and ministry.

    Tonight, we’re having a final dinner at a friend’s home. I know what that means—more food than we could possibly eat. You know how it is when company comes over. You do your best and offer your most.

    And that made me think about Jesus having dinner at Zacchaeus’s house.

    You remember Zacchaeus, don’t you? The little guy who climbed the tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus as He passed by? Jesus stopped, looked up, and called him by name.

    “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” (Luke 19:5, WEB)

    I can just picture him scrambling down the tree, splinters digging into his hands and feet—but I doubt he even noticed. Jesus knew his name. I imagine Zacchaeus, wide-eyed and breathless, stammering in disbelief:

    “Yes, yes, of course, Lord! You will have dinner at my house!”

    Then he was off, running as fast as his short legs could carry him, huffing and puffing toward home, clutching his side.

    “Rachel! Rachel!” I imagine him calling to his wife. “We have company tonight! Call the servants! Make a feast! Only the best! No, I don’t know how many are coming—I forgot to ask! Just cook everything we have!”

    The table would have been spread with fine tapestries, bowls heaped high with fruit, bread, and steaming grains. A roasted lamb in the center, ready to be carved. How many times had Zacchaeus hosted politicians and dignitaries at his table? Too many to count. But this time, everything was different.

    Jesus knew his name.

    Out of all the people in the crowd—tall men, powerful men, men with influence—Jesus looked up at the one who had been ignored, ridiculed, and dismissed. And He spoke his name.

    Friends know their friends’ names.

    “A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17, WEB)

    Jesus is that friend. The one who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). The elder brother who sees us, knows us, and calls us out of hiding.

    Zacchaeus didn’t need healing. He wasn’t blind or lame. He didn’t need loaves and fish multiplied. What he needed was recognition. He had spent his life feeling overlooked—until the most important man to ever walk his streets called him by name.

    In many ways, that’s how this mission trip has felt. Not just about preaching or teaching, but about seeing people. Fellowshiping. Speaking their names.

    Because sometimes, the greatest gift we can give is the same gift Jesus gave Zacchaeus—the simple but powerful reminder:

    “I see you. I know you. You are not forgotten. And I know your name!”

  • Stand Firm

    In a time of severe oppression, when the Israelites were suffering under the Midianites, Gideon was hiding, threshing wheat in a winepress to avoid detection (Judges 6:11). This scene painted a grim picture of Israel’s plight.

    Amidst this, the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and declared, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12). Gideon, confused and doubtful, asked, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? Where are His wonders?” (Judges 6:13). He struggled to reconcile his dire circumstances with the promise of God’s presence.

    God reassured Gideon, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel from Midian. Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14). Gideon felt inadequate, protesting, “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest, and I am the least in my family” (Judges 6:15). Despite his doubts, God promised victory, saying, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites” (Judges 6:16).

    Gideon assembled an army, but God instructed him to reduce it. He first sent home the fearful, then chose the soldiers who drank water with their hands to their mouths, leaving him with just 300 men (Judges 7:4-7). With this small force, Gideon faced a vast Midianite army. Instead of traditional weapons, Gideon’s men had trumpets, jars, and torches. They broke the jars, revealed the torches, and blew the trumpets, causing chaos and confusion among the Midianites. The victory came not through might but through divine intervention.

    This story mirrors 2 Corinthians 12:9, where Paul says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Gideon’s story illustrates how God often works through our weaknesses to demonstrate His power. True victory comes from relying on God’s strength.

    History offers another example: the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, where 300 Spartans held off a vast Persian army. They used their superior tactics to their advantage, fighting in a narrow pass. This battle serves as a metaphor for our spiritual struggles. Just as the Spartans used strategy and discipline, believers use prayer and scripture to face challenges.

    Prayer connects us to God, offering strength and guidance, while scripture provides truth to counteract spiritual deceptions. Our spiritual resilience, like the Spartans’, comes from unwavering faith and strategic use of these tools.

    Ephesians 6:13 calls us to fully equip ourselves with the armor of God to withstand evil. Nehemiah’s leadership during the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall shows the importance of readiness. He had workers build with one hand while holding a weapon in the other (Nehemiah 4:16-17). This balance of labor and defense is a metaphor for our spiritual battles. We must build our faith while remaining vigilant against spiritual adversaries.

    Ephesians 6:13 instructs us to put on the full armor of God to stand firm. Like Gideon and the Spartans, we face challenges with preparation and resolve. Romans 13:12 reminds us to “put on the armor of light.”

    To apply this, dedicate time each day to immerse yourself in Scripture. Use tools like digital Bible searches to find verses that strengthen your faith, such as Romans 8:37 and 2 Timothy 1:7. Speak these verses aloud as declarations against spiritual forces. Address challenges with the authority of Christ, recognizing them as spiritual battles. As Ephesians 6:12 teaches, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil.”

    By applying Scripture, invoking Jesus’ name, and using spiritual weapons, you stand firm against the true enemies of your soul and uphold God’s authority in every aspect of your life.

    We are living in both amazing and alarming times. The world around us seems to be unraveling, but God remains unwavering in His faithfulness. Just as He stood with Gideon, He stands with us today.

    Gideon’s story reminds us of how God moves in our fear and uncertainty. When the Israelites were under severe oppression by the Midianites, Gideon was hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat, consumed by fear (Judges 6:11). In this dark moment, the angel of the Lord appeared and called him a “mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12). Gideon, like many of us, questioned, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened?” (Judges 6:13). But God saw beyond Gideon’s fear and doubt, reassuring him, “Go in the strength you have… I will be with you” (Judges 6:14-16).

    Gideon obeyed, even when it didn’t make sense. With just 300 men, armed only with trumpets, jars, and torches, he faced an enemy too vast to count. His victory was not through human strength, but through the power of God’s presence and intervention (Judges 7:4-7). As 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us, “My power is made perfect in weakness.”

    Gideon’s story shows us that true victory comes not from our own abilities but from trusting in God’s strength. We too, in these challenging times, are called to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13 tells us to put on the full armor of God, to fight not with fear but with faith, armed with prayer and the truth of Scripture. These are our spiritual weapons that hold us steady in the battle.

    Don’t be discouraged, my friend. Though we face dark days, remember that we are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us”—Jesus. Keep standing, trusting, and pressing forward in His strength. Victory belongs to the Lord.

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