Hardened Veterans on Their Knees

HERMAN NORTON in his book, Rebel Religion, gave the following description:

Between December 18, 1862 and May 1863 after the victory of the Confederates at Fredericksburg, the southern chaplains took advantage of inactivity to promote the cause of Jesus Christ. William B. Owen, chaplain of the 17th Mississippi Regiment began to sponsor revival in Fredericksburg. A Baptist chaplain who helped Owen said that on the thirty-first day of their revival meetings, those 75 penitent men confessed their sins. It was reported there had been 112 public professions of faith during the first 30 days of the revival and at least 100 others were seeking “the way of life.” “It was a touching scene,” wrote the Baptist chaplain. “to see the stern veterans of many a hard-fought field, who would not hesitate to enter the deadly breach or charge the heaviest battery, trembling under the power of divine truth, and weeping tears of bitter penitence over a misspent life.”

The gospel has the power to bring the toughest men to their knees. No life is hopeless with God. The jailor was a rough sort by Roman standards, but the Lord specializes in hard cases. There is no life beyond the reach of the transforming power of God.

Do you know someone today who is a hard case? The Lord can still break the hardest of hearts.

We want to thank AMG Publishers and Terry Tuley for providing this plan. For the complete devotional or more information, visit: battlefieldsandblessings.com. To learn more about AMG International's gospel work around the world, visit: amginternational.org.