I wonder how you are celebrating St George's Day?

Unlike many other nations, there are few well established customs to mark our Patron Saint. I suspect that, for many, the idea of a man rescuing a princess from a dragon is so farcical that they discount St George entirely!

Although the legend of St George and the Dragon is incredible to modern ears, I believe there is value in commemorating George. He, like so many faithful Christians down through the centuries, fought the fight of faith. He stood up and was counted.

At a time when it was illegal to be a Christian, George openly and defiantly proclaimed his faith in Jesus. This caused all sorts of trouble. 

The first Epistle to Timothy ends with these words:

But as for you, man of God, shun all {wrongdoing}; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ...

Timothy was an early church leader. He was a young man, and is one of my heroes. At a time when most religious leaders were wise and grey haired, Timothy felt he had a message from God, and was brave enough to speak it. For this reason, he is addressed as 'man of God'.

Yet here is the thing: through our baptism we are all men and women of God. The charge laid at Timothy's feet applies as much to you and me as it did to him. Just as Timothy and George were brave enough to declare his faith and to live it out, so too we are called to live the life of a Jesus-follower. 

Although the world around us may be full of ill and woe; although we may be locked in our homes and unable to go and live our lives, let us not forget that we are still called and chosen soldiers of Christ. We are challenged to fight the good fight, to challenge evil and to stand for the oppressed. And, in order to do this, God gives us the armoury that we need. 

As we live through these difficult days, unsure of where next to turn, let us remember that God supplies our needs when He calls us in His service. God never asks more of us than we can give, but, through the Holy Spirit, equips us for the great fight. 

As for you, men and women of God, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith, and take hold of the eternal life which God gives through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen