“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I silently mused to myself.

It’s Sunday morning as I write this, and Lynne and I are on vacation in Colorado. Yesterday was a great day as we had an overlapping visit with my son Chris and my grandson Kaleb. After my quiet time this morning, I began to pray about my next devotion topic when the words “Bataan Death March” came to mind — not a topic I would pick. But then it occurred to me that the words may have resulted from yesterday’s hike, which the four of us did.

Kaleb is 23, and even though this was only his second day at 10,000-plus feet above sea level, he was climbing like a mountain goat, which is what we were climbing to see. Chris is 57, I’m 78, and Lynne is (redacted). Even our dog Cooper, who is recovering from knee surgery, joined us on the rocky uphill climb.

It was probably one of the most exhaustive hikes we’ve ever done (it was a goat trail most of the way), but it was well worth it. We all slept well last night.

I hadn’t given the words a second thought until I logged onto Facebook to send birthday greetings to a few friends. As I began exiting the platform, lo and behold, I saw a post about the oldest Bataan Death March survivor, Major Albert “Doc” Brown, who passed away on August 14, 2011, at the age of 105!

After the fall of Bataan, the captured American and Filipino survivors were marched 65 miles in brutal heat. Those who fell by the wayside were executed. Many risked their lives to help those who were struggling, knowing what would happen if they themselves became too weak to continue.

As Christians, we can learn a lesson from the Bataan survivors: We are in a war and our enemy is brutal. Fear and intimidation are his weapons of choice. Some of our brothers and sisters are falling by the wayside. Are you and I going to come to their aid, helping them along the path of our journey?

The Apostle Paul instructs us on what our proper response should be: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2, ESV). “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up” (Romans 15:1–2).

The Christian life is one of service — service to our Lord Jesus Christ and service to our brothers and sisters. When we live that kind of life, we can trust God to strengthen us. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

The Hebrew word translated “wait” has the sense of being “entwined” with the Lord, something that happens when we are guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Let’s be those who help “bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!