A 'Jesus In The Neon' Bible Lesson: Greater Love to Have Courage to Lay it All Down

MONTGOMERY, TX -- It was February 27, 1945. Iwo Jima. A platoon of United States Marines were pinned down by enemy machine-gun fire. They couldn’t move forward. But one Marine decided to do something about it. He crawled approximately thirty yards toward the enemy position while bullets flew around him. Imagine knowing every inch on a battlefield could be your last. He got close enough to throw a hand grenade, helping his platoon charge forward. During the fighting, he was wounded by enemy fire, yet kept fighting and destroyed the enemy position with a demolition charge. The young Marine refused evacuation until his platoon leader ordered him to leave. That young man was Orville O’dell Vaught, and he was my great-grandpa.

My great-grandfather was awarded the Purple Heart, and I’m incredibly proud of him. My grandpa also served as a Marine, plus I have two cousins serving as a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major on active duty. But what stands out most with my great-grandpa isn’t just his bravery, he risked his life so others could move forward.

That reminds me of John 15:13 … “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

I want to share several biblical examples of courage and sacrifice. Examples that have motivated soldiers throughout the ages, to act in manner, that were set forth in The Bible. King David was courageous when everyone else was afraid. In 1 Samuel 17, an entire army was terrified of Goliath, then David showed up. He was a shepherd boy who was literally delivering lunch to his brothers, but while everyone else saw a giant in Goliath, David saw a God bigger than his circumstances. David stepped forward, defeated Goliath, and gave Israel’s army the opportunity to advance. And just like my great-grandpa, one person’s courage helped others move forward. Sometimes God uses one brave person to change everything.

A little story associated with David is the barely known tale of Abishai, often overlooked as a forgotten hero. In 2 Samuel 21:15–17, years following David’s defeat of Goliath, another Philistine giant targeted the King to end his life, and when it all looked bleak and David was about to accept his fate, Abishai stepped in and saved him. Abishai wasn’t a king, just one of David’s military officers, and in one battle when David was exhausted, Abishai stood in challenge to the Philistine and slew him, saving his King. Abishai was there when someone needed him, and sometimes despite being the hero, he became an important footnote in The Bible. A reminder that fame is not important, when service to a cause has a greater need than being well known.

Another of David’s warriors was Eleazar, and in 2 Samuel 23:9–10, his courage in the face of intense battle against the Philistines, holding the line when all hope appears to be lost, still showing strength when you are exhausted, and while others retreated around him. Eleazar’s bravery and courage, his spirit in the face of death, yet he clung to his sword, and brought a great victory that day. That reminds me of my great-grandpa continuing to fight after being wounded. Courage doesn’t mean never getting tired, but it is asking for help, trusting God, and trying again tomorrow. Our strength has limits, but God’s is unlimited, and we rely on him to help in dire times.

The story of Esther is one of courage over comfort, and displays that women can show just as much grace in conflict (a battle of wits) as the men. In Esther 4:13–16, we find she was a queen who discovered her people were in danger. She could have remained silent and protected herself, or risked her life by approaching the king. Mordecai asked whether she had become queen “for such a time as this.” Esther responded, “If I perish, I perish.” Esther chose courage over comfort and helped save her people. Sometimes courage isn’t fighting on a battlefield, but speaking up when staying silent would have been easier.

Great sacrifices are not just made by warriors, heroes, or those who have exhibited extraordinary courage. But there’s one sacrifice greater than them all. Jesus Christ. Jesus knew He would be betrayed, beaten, mocked, and crucified. Yet, he willingly went to the cross. Romans 5:8 says: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Not when we became perfect. Not when we stopped making mistakes.”

While we are all sinners, Jesus died for us. Three days later, He rose again, defeating death and offering us eternal life.

My great-grandpa on the battlefield helped make a way forward for his platoon, just as Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled in the eyes of God.

I want to thank every Veteran and Military family for their service and sacrifice, but I also want to challenge everyone, whether associated with the military or not.

You may never face a battlefield, but you will face moments requiring courage. Stand up for someone being bullied. Help a struggling friend. Choose to forgive over being bitter, and most importantly, share your faith. You may never know how far someone may fall, before seeing you take that first step, which can make all the difference in someone’s life.

So, be brave like David. Show up like Abishai. Persevere like Eleazar. And stand up like Esther. Love selflessly, and defend those that need help standing up for their dignity. And above all else, Love like Jesus.

My great-grandpa crawled thirty yards so others could move forward. What’s your thirty yards?

What courageous step is God asking you to take?

Remember John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” You may never be called to lay down your life. But every day, you can choose to live it for something greater than yourself, helping someone realize that life is worth living.

Every Wednesday evening, Jesus in the Neon is there waiting for you. It's not an official church, but rather a weekly group of everyday people who gather together in Praise of Love and Honor for Jesus. JINT is located at the Guitars & Classic Cars Ranch, 1097 McCaleb Rd in Montgomery, TX, from 7:00pm - 8:30pm. Just look for the old police cars and enter to the right. The door opens at 6:30pm. All are welcome who are in search of Jesus. If you can’t attend, the event is streamed on Facebook. Simply ‘Follow,’ and you can tune in to the livestream.

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Payton’s website - paytonrileymusic.com

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