The song "Brothers in Arms" is about the Falklands War, which was going on when Dire Straits lead singer Mark Knopfler wrote the song. The Falklands War was a conflict between Argentina and England over islands off the coast of Argentina that each country claims rights to. The islands are British territories, but in 1982 Argentina tried to reclaim one of the islands. Britain reclaimed their territories, but lost 258 soldiers in the conflict. In 2007, a new version of this track featuring Mark Knopfler was released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War. Proceeds from the sale of the single went to a program that brought British veterans back to the site of the war in an effort to help them deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
These mist-covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Some day you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be brothers in arms
Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I've witnessed your suffering
As the battle raged high
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms
There's so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones
Now the sun's gone to hell
And the moon riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line in your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms
Brotherhood is a gift. There is an old saying "Sometimes your brother may be wrong, but he will always be your brother" To have someone who has your back no matter what, is a rare quality and is missing in some places in the world in which we live. Some have it......but some do not.
This devotion today is the 50th devotion in the series "Rock Goes The Gospel" and it is dedicated to those who are struggling in life and need the strength of God. There are some who today are in pain, suffering and grief and it's right to mention and to state to all of them that you are not alone, your pain can be seen, your anguish is understood, your travail is acknowledged, your heart is treasured and your back is covered. This is far from being a sexist thing. For the principle that is part of the ethos of brotherhood is also present in sisterhood as well and it should be present in every human social structure. It is the principle of "Loyalty", "Sacrifice" and gritty "Love". In times of weakness, and in the changing scenes of life this is dependable, reliable and gives assurance.
This devotion today is the 50th devotion in the series "Rock Goes The Gospel" and it is dedicated to those who are struggling in life and need the strength of God. There are some who today are in pain, suffering and grief and it's right to mention and to state to all of them that you are not alone, your pain can be seen, your anguish is understood, your travail is acknowledged, your heart is treasured and your back is covered. This is far from being a sexist thing. For the principle that is part of the ethos of brotherhood is also present in sisterhood as well and it should be present in every human social structure. It is the principle of "Loyalty", "Sacrifice" and gritty "Love". In times of weakness, and in the changing scenes of life this is dependable, reliable and gives assurance.
There are moments in the New Testament when we see the principle of "Brotherhood" or "Loyalty" as part of the story. Jesus takes on himself a band of brothers on the road with him. So different were they one from the other, but they stuck by each other through the rough as well as the smooth. Can you imagine what it must have been like to be part of Jesus' twelve disciples? Each of them were so different. They all had different experiences of life. Some had different positions in life. Some were more educated than others but that simply did not matter. Friction would have happened in the relationships between them as it does in any social group.
When Jesus went into heaven in Acts 1 the story of the early church refocuses around the ministry of Peter and John. You cannot separate them. They preached together, they prayed together, they healed together and they spoke to power together. You just have to read Acts 1-4 to see that. In Acts 2 it says "They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching to fellowship and to the breaking of bread and prayer"
The word "devotion" is an interesting one. It simply means "Obstinate" Like in the marriage vows - "I will cleave unto you and no other" It's an obstinate loyalty. It means to be obstinate to "Row against the tide" So the apostles had obstinate loyalty to fellowship. As a group and to individuals as well. You could say it in this way "I will stick to you, as a brother, I will watch your back, I will dry your tears, I will understand your anguish, I will acknowledge your travail, I will treasure your heart, I will see your pain and I will pray for your life and soul. I will stand by your side. I will not abandon or desert you.
Paul the great apostle speaks about this "Brothers in Arms" principle and action in Romans 12:10. In this chapter Paul has just spoken about what real worship looks like "Sacrifice and Service" He now goes on to talk about what it looks like to be devoted to one another.
When Jesus went into heaven in Acts 1 the story of the early church refocuses around the ministry of Peter and John. You cannot separate them. They preached together, they prayed together, they healed together and they spoke to power together. You just have to read Acts 1-4 to see that. In Acts 2 it says "They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching to fellowship and to the breaking of bread and prayer"
The word "devotion" is an interesting one. It simply means "Obstinate" Like in the marriage vows - "I will cleave unto you and no other" It's an obstinate loyalty. It means to be obstinate to "Row against the tide" So the apostles had obstinate loyalty to fellowship. As a group and to individuals as well. You could say it in this way "I will stick to you, as a brother, I will watch your back, I will dry your tears, I will understand your anguish, I will acknowledge your travail, I will treasure your heart, I will see your pain and I will pray for your life and soul. I will stand by your side. I will not abandon or desert you.
Paul the great apostle speaks about this "Brothers in Arms" principle and action in Romans 12:10. In this chapter Paul has just spoken about what real worship looks like "Sacrifice and Service" He now goes on to talk about what it looks like to be devoted to one another.
Devotion, Preference and Honour are all mentioned in this one verse. This is how highly Paul is stressing the need to have real brotherhood. The kind of devotion and determination that can be seen in Jesus. The same gritty loyalty and honour that can be found in the humble Saviour/Servant of Galilee.
To stick with someone no matter what is a rare quality. We see this as the way that Jesus walked with his disciples, by his Spirit he walks with his church in the mission fields of the world today and encourages no less a thing. Perhaps we can declare our devotion and loyalty to brotherhood by saying to a person with Dire Straits "I will not desert you my brothers in Arms" or perhaps simply making a stand beside someone is enough. May God you today and strengthen you in your heart, mind and soul and may God strengthen the people you are standing with.
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