A Civil War Devotional: Daily Inspirations with Historical Connections
376
A Civil War Devotional: Daily Inspirations with Historical Connections
376eBook
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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781504355049 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Balboa Press |
| Publication date: | 05/10/2016 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 376 |
| File size: | 964 KB |
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A Civil War Devotional
Daily Inspirations with Historical Connections
By Randy Bishop
Balboa Press
Copyright © 2016 Randy BishopAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5043-5503-2
CHAPTER 1
JANUARY 1
ON JANUARY 1, 1863 THE Emancipation Proclamation, U. S. President Abraham Lincoln's plan for the abolition of slavery, was enacted. While the executive order's effectiveness and content have been questioned and debated since that time, its intent is far more certain. What Lincoln sought to accomplish was the freedom of over three million slaves in the Confederate States of America. He avoided addressing those individuals subjected to bondage in the Border States, areas whose manpower and resources were important to the success of the Federal war effort. The argument against the Emancipation Proclamation centers upon the fact that the document addressed the slaves in states which President Lincoln deemed as being "in rebellion against the United States." As such, Lincoln arguably had no authority by which he could grant freedom to Southern slaves.
In contrast, Jesus has supreme authority to provide freedom to anyone who will yield to His teachings. In John 14:6 Jesus stated, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." In doing so, a Christian becomes free from the sins of the past and can begin life anew. Following Galatians 5:13, Christians are to remember, "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."
As the New Year begins, ask yourself what better way to celebrate the onset of a new calendar than to enable yourself to become free to worship God and serve others in God's love. These are principles that are found in the Bible and will make your life more fulfilling. Make it a personal goal to issue your proclamation to follow the teachings of Jesus and regularly study God's word. In doing so, according to the book of John, chapter 8 and verse 32, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
JANUARY 2
JAMES 4:13-16 STATES, "GO TO now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil."
January 2, 1863 served as the end of the multi-day bloodbath at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Also known as the battle of Stone's River, the engagement became the location where over 76,000 soldiers were bidding for control of the area. With the total number of casualties surpassing 24,000, the battle resulted in one of the highest percentages of killed, wounded, and missing among the major conflicts of the American Civil War. The losses of the battle serve as an indication of another truth, the frailty and uncertainty of life.
Unable to gain a foothold on the river, more specifically at a point known as McFadden's Ford, and with the onset of freezing rain, Confederate general Braxton Bragg ordered the retreat of his troops. The best intentions and plans of the two armies had given way to the position of the opposition as well as the forces of nature. Despite the plans of the officers in addition to those enlisted men who lay dead and dying on the rain-soaked and muddy fields of Middle Tennessee, the end of life came at an unexpected time, as it commonly does for each of us.
Just as the warriors who stood on the banks of Stone's River were unable to enact plans to renew the battle, we are urged to avoid living for future goals, as there is no assurance of the ability to pursue them. Something as seemingly minor as weather, or as final as death not only affected the thousands of soldiers gathered at Murfreesboro, the same aspects can also alter our most-organized and well-thought plans.
JANUARY 3
THE TENSIONS THAT LED TO the War Between the States were developed over the decades that preceded the bombardment of Ft. Sumter. The list of incidents and situations is well-documented and each could be elevated to the pinnacle and successfully noted as the primary cause for the onset of military actions. Aside from the institution of slavery, there are additional points that warrant discussion as causes for the American Civil War.
The Missouri Compromise, written forty years before the guns were fired at Sumter, served as one of the earliest events that eventually led to unparalleled levels of death and destruction. In the following years actions such as Nat Turner's revolt and the growth of the Underground Railroad contributed to the level of uneasy coexistence between the states of the North and South. The Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act, Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, and the Dred Scott Case added more strain to the situation. The publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin, which Lincoln reportedly stated to its author, Harriet Beech Stowe, as being a catalyst for the conflict, did nothing to pacify the growing factions. The 1860 election placed Lincoln in the White House and created the exodus of Southern states from the United States.
In turn, many personal conflicts are lengthy in developing. Mark 3:24 tells us that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Does it not make sense that that also applies to the situations our homes, communities, and nation face today? Increasing tensions over items ranging from the inability to pay bills or provide for basic needs to weightier issues debated across our nation are tearing apart our structure as we know it. Romans 16:17 offers a clear solution to this situation in noting, "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them."
Be mindful of those around you and strive to associate with those whose intentions are positive.
JANUARY 4
AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH the American Civil War, pontoon bridges allowed armies to cross rivers for the purpose of either initiating battle, retreating from the same, or simply moving toward a new base of operation. Simple in design and construction, the bridges provided a means by which rivers that were otherwise difficult to cross were more easily traversed. Failure to do so in a timely manner, as in the case of the Federal soldiers at Fredericksburg, could lead or contribute to defeat.
Boats would be tied to a river bank with planks placed in a parallel manner across the series of vessels. Infantry, cavalry, and artillery units could then use the pontoon bridges to make their way across the otherwise nonnegotiable flowing waters. Dismantling the structures also was reportedly a simple process, with one set of anchoring ropes being severed and allowing the pontoons to float toward the bank upon which the remaining anchors were set. A difficult task such as moving thousands of troops, animals, and a large amount of equipment was made far more manageable with a simple ploy such as the construction of a pontoon bridge.
Such a simple means exists for a person to escape the perils of spending eternity in the tumultuous fires of Hell where pain and anguish surround and engulf those who are doomed to spend the rest of time. By contrast, the cross denotes the way by which someone can enter Heaven and spend eternity in the peace and tranquility of Heaven. A song of worship states, "The way of the cross leads home." I Corinthians 1:18, King James Version, says, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." The sacrifice Jesus provided on Calvary allows each of us to gain life eternal. Much like the pontoon bridges of old, it is a simple means by which an otherwise impossible problem is solved.
JANUARY 5
IN TODAY'S WORLD, CHILDREN ARE often subjected to neglect and abuse. This is not the Biblical situation or set of circumstances. The King James Version states in Mark 10:14 that Jesus desired that we are to let the little children come to Him and hinder them not, "for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." As such, these young people should be lifted up and not used as the objects of our anger, disgust, or desires. Additional evidence of how to treat children is seen in the first half of Matthew 18:10, "See that you do not despise one of these little ones." We are to instruct children in the teachings of Jesus and immerse them in Biblical knowledge. 3 John 1:4 says, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
On January 5, 1862, Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson and his Confederate command engaged Federal troops at Hancock, Maryland. Attempting to negate the Federal movements along the B & O Railroad as well as the C & O Canal, Jackson struck the position which soldiers under the leadership of Brigadier General Frederick William Lander. The latter's refusal to surrender led to Jackson's bombardment of the settlement, but not before allowing the women and children who lived in the town to make an uninterrupted exit from the area.
The men of war had allowed those who were not warriors to flee Hancock, Maryland prior to pursuing their quest to gain or maintain possession of the garrison. Sadly, within two months Lander would pass away from pneumonia. Jackson tragically suffered a mortal wound some sixteen months after Hancock and, like Lander, fell victim to complications of pneumonia.
Just as the generals did at Hancock, we should avoid using or abusing young ones in our daily battles or struggles. As the Psalmist proclaimed in Psalm 127:3, "... Children are a gift from the Lord ..." These words were true thousands of years ago, as well as at the battle of Hancock, Maryland, and they continue to serve as effective guidelines to this day.
JANUARY 6
THE USE OF TRENCH WARFARE reached new levels of prominence during the American Civil War. The presumed safety soldiers found within the confines of the oversized ditches was often negated with the filth and vermin that were prevalent in the same. The frequent orders for soldiers under his command to engage in digging and construction of the trenches and earthworks earned Confederate general Robert E. Lee the sarcastic nickname "King of Spades."
Lee's designation is most clearly displayed in examining the situation at Petersburg, Virginia. As the year of 1864 approached, Confederate and Federal troops dug over thirty-five miles of trenches around Petersburg, a town located near the Confederate capital of Richmond. Bombproof shelters provided a symbol of sanctuary for the inhabitants of the trenches, while torpedo fields, wire entanglements, and other types of obstacles lay between the Federal and Confederate trenches and hampered offensive maneuvers from members of the opposing army.
Do you find yourself residing in the trenches, supposedly safe and sound, or are you moving from the confines of these earthworks, charging forward in an attempt to eliminate the obstacles to someone becoming part of God's kingdom? We reside in a sin-sick world, and often live in the complacency of simply watching others invite people to church, compose a card for the sick or saddened, or lifting someone up in prayer. Doing so may result in missed opportunities of helping someone to salvation or lifting the spirits of a discouraged person.
I Corinthians 15:58 commands us, "... Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." Likewise, Matthew 28:19 issues the challenge to avoid staying in the comfort of our daily lives, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Leave the presumed safety of the trenches and begin to work for the Lord today.
JANUARY 7
EPHESIANS 4:32 STATES, "BE KIND and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." An Old Testament parallel, Proverbs 19:11, makes a similar declaration. The latter says, "A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense." Yet a New Testament verse, Matthew 18:33, appeals to Christians in noting, "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" Are we to assume we are to treat others in a manner different from than that which Jesus provided us?
On January 7, 1864 President Abraham Lincoln commuted the sentence of a deserter. Military regulations called for the young man to be put to death, but Lincoln determined that the life of the soldier should be spared. When individuals inquired as to the rationale behind his decision, the Chief Executive of the United States reportedly replied, "I am trying to evade the butchering business lately."
Although the disdain for the practice of commuting death sentences allegedly infuriated many of Lincoln's generals, he was often known to do so, especially if the offender was a man who had not experienced or endured many years. Instead of the life of such a young accused individual being ended, President Lincoln saw a term of imprisonment as a viable alternative. While the disagreements centered upon the possibility of the forgiving act leading to a lack of discipline, Lincoln's choice prevailed.
As Lincoln used a keen sense of judgment in forgiving the deserter, it seems sensible that we should each be more forgiving in the daily interactions we share with others. After all, as the Bible states in 2 Corinthians 2:10, "Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven, if there was anything to forgive, I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake." Are we to pretend to be superior to the example of Christ?
JANUARY 8
THE MEDICAL CARE PROVIDED DURING the American Civil War is one of the most notorious aspects of the struggle. It has been stated that only 1 in 4 soldiers would be likely to survive the war, a statistic primarily due to the lack of knowledge regarding the causes or spreading of various diseases. Also, the poor sanitation of the time created havoc upon patients who were the recipients of amputations, the most common surgery during the War Between the States.
The frequency of wounds inflicted through the use of the Minie ball increased the practice of amputations. Contaminants present on the projectiles were often accented through the poor cleaning of surgical instruments and with surgeries taking place in a myriad of germ-laden environments. While the intent of the surgeons was positive, the quality of the physical care shown to the patients was most often as harmful, if not more so, than the injury for which the treatment was intended. In relation to modern society, each nation's citizens should properly care for his or her body. Since the time of the Civil War, medical practices, facilities, and medicines have improved beyond comprehension. However, the maintenance of one's physical well-being has no clearer point at which to begin than in viewing Biblical passages.
I Corinthians 6:19-20 states, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." Similarly, I Corinthians 10:31 says, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." In addition, words from the Old Testament declare that one's physical health is related to the spiritual life of the individual. Proverbs 17:22 summarizes the time-honored thought in noting, "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Keeping a clean mind and body should lead to a better life.
JANUARY 9
THE BIBLE IS CLEAR ON the idea of deceit. Romans 16:18 says, "For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting." An Old Testament passage, found in Proverbs 20:17, provides another verse of caution, "Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel." I Peter 2:1 offers a similar warning and a solution, "Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation ..." Truthful words from each of us are spiritual and honorable means of interaction.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from A Civil War Devotional by Randy Bishop. Copyright © 2016 Randy Bishop. Excerpted by permission of Balboa Press.
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