Excellent Spirits

Excellent Spirits

Ezra 3:3, NIV

“Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices.”

Ezra 3:3 (NASB)

3 “So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening”.

    I was reading the biographies of military chaplains and one of those stories stuck out to me was Chaplain Kenneth Best. Chaplain Kenneth Best served in World War I. One day he held a communion service at 6 a.m., hoping to minister to the men before the firing started; but the enemy started their attack early. Though Best didn’t expect anyone to show up at the service, he felt responsible to be there if they did, despite the danger.

    “To my surprise, regardless of shrapnel, about 100 men were present. Never shall I forget my first service under fire. We all felt God’s good providence watched over us, for not one was hit. We are all in excellent spirits.”1

    Some days are frightening, and we’re surrounded by circumstances that could make us anxious. But as we go about the work God has assigned us, He is among us. He is able to keep us in excellent spirits today.

    John Newton said, “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear.”

 1From A Prayer for Gallipoli: The Great War Diaries of Chaplain Kenneth Best