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Men of Integrity, Nov/Dec 2000
Mystery of the Unexploded Shells
This Week's Theme: Faithfulness to God
Thursday, December 28
Key Bible Verse: Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).
Bonus Reading: Matthew 24:45-51
In his book, The Fall of Fortresses, Elmer Bendiner tells of a B-17 Flying Fortress flying a bombing mission over Germany toward the end of World War II. It took several direct hits from Nazi antiaircraft guns; a few actually hit the fuel tank. Miraculously, the crippled aircraft made it back without exploding or running out of fuel.
After landing, 11 unexploded 20 millimeter shells were carefully removed from the bomber's fuel tank! Each was dismantled and examined. All 11 were empty of explosive material. A small note was found inside one of the shells, handwritten in Czech. Translated, it read, "This is all we can do for you now."
A member of the Czech underground, working in a Nazi munitions factory, had deliberately omitted the explosives in at least 11 of the shells on his assembly line. He slipped the note into one of the shells, hoping that someone who benefited from his efforts might discover why. That same person may have died wondering if the quiet work he was doing to subvert the enemy war machine would ever make any difference to the outcome of the war. A Flying Fortress crew had him to thank for their lives.
—Charles R. Swindoll in Simple Faith
Respond:
Remember that small things can have a great impact. You are important to the work of the kingdom!
Thought to Apply:
God called us to play the game, not to keep the score.
—Vance Havner (preacher and evangelist, 20th century)
Adapted from: Simple Faith (Word, 1991).
NOTE: For your convenience, Simple Faith is available in the ChristianityToday.com Shopping Channel.
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Prayer for the Week |
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Father, I praise you for your faithfulness to me. Help me to remain faithful to you.
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