There are No Winners in War

Are there ever really any winners or victors in a war?

Right away we would say.."Yes..those who are the strongest, fastest or smartest in the fight!"

My personal opinion is that there are never truly any 'winners.' War is a lose, lose situation because it instantaneously means that one will die or be beaten severely.. and the 'victor' will suffer tremendously for the life they took and for the scars of battle itself... in every area of their life. It also affects their families.

The cost of war is high, and once engaged... a price WILL be paid.

The LORD led me this morning to 2 Samuel 2: 15-23. War is even rougher when you KNOW your opponent!

Many times in our walk with the LORD..our loyalties WILL be tested! We can walk with people as friends...even close friends, or as co-workers in an endeavor and something will rise that makes us each choose a side and divides us.

Do we have the courage to STAND?

King David's house and King Saul's house were at war.

Each side had it's men.

Each side did their best to be loyal to the side they stood.

Abner was being pursued by Joab's brother, Ashael. Abner ran from him as fast as he could go.. all the time warning Ashael to relent and turn back or he would kill him. This one thing Abner did not want to do.

Ashael would not take heed, but persisted to overtake and kill Abner.

Abner could run no more... he took the butt of his spear and ran it through Ashael's abdomen... he died.

Abner now in greater fear of his life... had Joab in pursuit of him. Abner reasoned with Joab so that more lives were not consumed in the fight. Joab came to agree, and in the end each went his own way.

The thing is... in this life... wars will not cease. Someone has to have their own way.. someone has to rule.

In our own lives and day to day.. at home, in the work place, at school, in ministry... there are those we love, those we like, those we patiently choose to love, like and just plain endure...

There will be those times that we are divided in disagreement... even heated ones because of opposing viewpoints.

Our mission is to stand where the LORD would have us to stand.. but always in His love as well as His Truth.
..and we are to speak the truth in His love...

When their is an opposing viewpoint we need to be humble, gentle, soft spoken, wise, harmless, entreating... yet firm. We are to pray, intercede, and be quiet unless moved to speak what the LORD puts within our hearts. There is no need for anger, fits of rage, impatience, or strong words and or actions. These harsh things are like the butt of a spear being run through the heart of another.

There are no winners in these kinds of engagement... but I will correct one thing here.. if in the war we fight.. we can do so as Jesus would... we can win... then.. and our opponent IF they hear.. are winners as well. If they don't ...we have done what we could.