3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 2 Timothy 2:3-4New Living Translation (NLT)
What’s it Like to Serve as a Soldier?
Have you ever thought about what it must be like to be a Soldier? Rise up early each and every day 24/7. Train mentally and physically to stay strong. Go through Basic Combat Training. Serve without question. March in all kinds of environments; desert, swamp, mountains, heat, cold, rain, oceans, sky. Face the enemy without fear. Even give your life for what you believe and know, protect your family and country no matter what!
I did a little research and this is what I found. I copied this from goarmy.com.
This is something we as American Christians need to ask ourselves; Are we “DOING?” Or is it just lip service?
As you read the following apply the words to the Christian life!
The 7 Core Values Army Soldiers live by:
Loyalty
Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit and other Soldiers. Bearing true faith and allegiance is a matter of believing in and devoting yourself to something or someone. A loyal Soldier is one who supports the leadership and stands up for fellow Soldiers. By wearing the uniform of the U.S. Army you are expressing your loyalty. And by doing your share, you show your loyalty to your unit. (God’s uniform)
Duty
Fulfill your obligations. Doing your duty means more than carrying out your assigned tasks. Duty means being able to accomplish tasks as part of a team. The work of the U.S. Army is a complex combination of missions, tasks and responsibilities — all in constant motion. Our work entails building one assignment onto another. You fulfill your obligations as a part of your unit every time you resist the temptation to take “shortcuts” that might undermine the integrity of the final product. (The work of a Christian)
Respect
Treat people as they should be treated. In the Soldier ’s Code, we pledge to “treat others with dignity and respect while expecting others to do the same.” Respect is what allows us to appreciate the best in other people. Respect is trusting that all people have done their jobs and fulfilled their duty. And self-respect is a vital ingredient with the Army value of respect, which results from knowing you have put forth your best effort. The Army is one team and each of us has something to contribute. (The Golden Rule)
Selfless Service
Put the welfare of the Nation, the Army and your subordinates before your own. Selfless service is larger than just one person. In serving your country, you are doing your duty loyally without thought of recognition or gain. The basic building block of selfless service is the commitment of each team member to go a little further, endure a little longer, and look a little closer to see how he or she can add to the effort. (Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together; We are the family of God; serve one another in love.)
Honor
Live up to Army values. The Nation’s highest military award is The Medal of Honor. This award goes to Soldiers who make honor a matter of daily living — Soldiers who develop the habit of being honorable, and solidify that habit with every value choice they make. Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity and personal courage in everything you do. (The Christian’s highest award is the Crown of Life)
Integrity
Do what’s right, legally and morally. Integrity is a quality you develop by adhering to moral principles. It requires that you do and say nothing that deceives others. As your integrity grows, so does the trust others place in you. The more choices you make based on integrity, the more this highly prized value will affect your relationships with family and friends, and, finally, the fundamental acceptance of yourself. (Care for others more than yourself.)
Personal Courage
Face fear, danger or adversity (physical or moral). Personal courage has long been associated with our Army. With physical courage, it is a matter of enduring physical duress and at times risking personal safety. Facing moral fear or adversity may be a long, slow process of continuing forward on the right path, especially if taking those actions is not popular with others. You can build your personal courage by daily standing up for and acting upon the things that you know are honorable. (Do not be afraid but stand firm in faith even if it means laying down your life.)
It’s something to think about, take a long, hard look at your life and see where your heart is today. Let the Holy Spirit show you where you stand in the army of God. Make adjustments…and do whatever it takes to be all that God has called you to be. God bless you on your journey!
Lord hear our prayer,
Lord Jesus, help us today to examine our hearts using your standards and see where we need to make changes and change. As Soldiers in your Army Lord, let us be found faithful and obedient to the call. Amen.
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