Attitude of a Soldier: What's Inside?

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Are you bored? Have you become indifferent? Have you been lulled into a false sense of security? Does your life mirror more the world then Christ?  Has your soil turned hard and/or dry?  Has your life been crowded by the affairs of this life and have you let the birds of the air steal was is rightful yours from God?  Have you settled for moldy bread? Who has become GREATER in your life?         

Recently I had a dream where I graduated as a Marine.  When I awoke, I pondered, “Me a Marine?”  I might as well been Gideon at the wine press threshing some wheat when he heard the angle of the LORD say,

“The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” Judges 6:12

This dream urged me to see how the code of a U.S. Marine mirrors the characteristics of a soldier in Christ.  There are three characteristics a Marine is to possess.   These three attributes are also to be possessed by the soldier of Christ Jesus.

Marines are to have Honor…

“'Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.” 1 Samuel 2:30

We are to revere, honor and abide in God who empowers us to exemplify good ethical and moral behavior. We love, respect, and have concern for our fellow believers and others.  In God we are to mature, trust and depend.  We are accountable for our actions and hold others accountable for their actions. 

“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.  Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty.”  Malachi 4:2-3

I think part of the trouble with the church in America today is not fearing or reverencing the LORD as they should and above all things.  We look at the world as being this monstrous machine cutting down anyone who doesn’t conform to its erroneous opinion but who is the source of this erroneous thinking to start with? Satan.  Yes the people of this world act just like Satan.  They want to kill, steal, belittle, bully, and destroy anything that goes against their erroneous thinking.  BUT hasn’t Satan been defeated? So WHO should we rightfully fear then? Who’s TRUTH will stand forever?

 “Woe (judgment is coming) to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

How true it is about JOY being a byproduct of reverencing the LORD and JOY bolstering COURAGE.   

Marines are to have Courage…

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

We are to have courage in God who is to be continually our mental, spiritual, moral and physical strength that sees us through the spiritual warfare and daily challenges of this life.  He gives us mastery of fear, to do what his right, lead by example, and make tough decisions under stressful situations.   We take courage in God who gives us a higher standard of conduct.  

As the United States and the world progresses down this downward slippery slope as it has, many churches will be pressured and start to compromise to appease the immoral appetites of the world but their appetites will never be appeased.  As you see churches fall and marry into the culture rather then stay faithful to God, God wants us to take courage in Him and obey Him rather than human authority. (Acts 5:29).   

Marines are to have Commitment...

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” Psalm 37:5-6

We are to willfully, daily commit, surrender, and humble ourselves before God knowing God’s commitment to us.  He is for us not against us.  For in His continual faithfulness- he promotes excellence in every endeavor and to endure.   In His commitment He promotes in us self-discipline.  He prompts concern and love for others.  We see the horrors of the spiritual warfare but we look to His unrelenting faithfulness... He makes certain we finish this race and helps use emulate Christ in this increasing darkening world.  The darker the world becomes the more we will illuminate Christ. It’s His all-empowering grace that does this in us.

God wants to feed and "really" nourish our soul so it can rise above our understanding and soar like He intends.  

 

So in Short, a soldier in Christ is to:

Honor God…

Take Courage in God…

and Commit to God…

“Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said.  In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.  ‘They will be my people,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure.  I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child.’”  Malachi 3:16-17

Amen.