Common Valor by John Avant

As we remember those who laid down their lives for our freedom, Donna and I thought it might encourage you to see a short excerpt from our upcoming book, Common Valor. We best honor the valor of those who laid down their lives for us by living lives of valor ourselves.

Happy Memorial Day everyone

VALOR IS A DECISION

Everyone who ever won a medal for valor made a decision. Nobody receives a medal for how they felt or what they were thinking about. 

On June 28, 2005, in Afghanistan, Lt. Michael Murphy, in a fierce firefight during Operation Red Wings, made the valiant decision to expose himself to enemy fire in order to call for help, ultimately sacrificing his life to save his teammates. 

On October 8, 1918, in France, Sgt. Alvin York, in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of World War I, made the brave decision to lead an attack against a German machine gun nest, capturing 132 enemy soldiers while under heavy fire. 

On  May 5 – June 22, 1945, in Okinawa, Japan, Pfc. Desmond Doss, as a conscientious objector during World War II, demonstrated extraordinary valor by repeatedly rushing into combat without carrying a weapon to save the wounded, making the deliberate decision to protect lives at great personal risk.

Each of these men won the Medal of Honor for the valiant decisions they made. 

As followers of Jesus, filled with his Spirit, we are given the ability to choose valor over our own plans and power. 

We don’t have to wait until we feel brave, or get over a season of depression, or learn more of the Bible. We are empowered to choose to live in what God has already made available to us.

His valor.

Valor does not require physical weapons of warfare. But it does require sacrifice. In the examples above these heroes made a decision. They sacrificed themselves. They loved others, freedom, and their brothers more than their own lives.

“Christianity teaches that the highest virtue is love, and bravery is a part of love. It is often a choice we must make, not merely an emotion we feel.” Tim Keller

And so here is the definition of valor that we will use throughout this book. And more importantly, here is what God offers to you, right now, right where you are, in whatever you face:

Valor is the Spirit-empowered decision to sacrifice self and risk everything to win the victories that matter most.

This kind of valor is actually common.

It can be found every day in every corner of the Earth in the valiant yet common lives of God’s people.

Valor is a husband staying faithful by the side of his wife through years of illness. 

Valor is a high school student leaving his or her peers and eating lunch beside those that no one else wants to be with. 

Valor is an 80 year old woman who travels overseas to care for missionaries’ children.

Valor is a university student who sacrifices Spring break to serve others on mission. 

Valor is a young career woman/man who chooses to act with integrity instead of making an unethical choice. 

Valor is a young woman riddled with anxiety who chooses to live life fully even while struggling. 

Valor is a businessman who spends his night alone in a hotel on a business trip while everyone else is at the strip club. 

Valor is the young couple struggling financially that faithfully tithes anyway. 

Valor is the man with a terminal diagnosis who lives with a joy that astounds everyone. 

Valor is the man, the woman, the teen who was just baptized in a far away land, knowing there is now nothing ahead but suffering - and Jesus!

And a thousand other decisions, every day. 

Valor. 

It is not rare. It is common.