I am grateful to those who have served or are currently serving in our military. It is a high calling that requires tremendous sacrifice not only for the one serving but for their families as well. Over the recent years, I have had the privilege to interact with many military personnel. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard… it has been a joy and privilege for me to learn from the many of who treated GENESIS as a ‘temporary home.’
TEMPORARY HOME?
Active duty military personnel are only here for a short stint, whether that be a year, or two or sometimes longer. And, because they know their time is short, they make the most of it. I’ve been inspired by our service men and women who have called GENESIS home for a season. Here’s but a snapshot as to why God has used these men and women to not only inspire and encourage me but remind me of some important truths that apply to ALL who follow Jesus.
LIVE WITH URGENCY
If you knew you only had one year, maybe two in a certain place, how would you approach that season of time? Would you invest in people? Would you invest your time, talents, and resources? Would you pour yourself out for the good and benefit of others? Or would you quietly exist where you are, thinking there’s not much point of giving of yourself because you won’t be around all that long?
Those in the military know that their time is short, and because of that, they live out their non-negotiables with a greater sense of passion, conviction, and urgency. Because being actively engaged in community is a non-negotiable, it’s not an option to live at the fringe of community peering in as a spectator rather than an engaged participant. Despite only being in community for a short season, that season becomes transformational not only for them but for those around them.
Is it hard saying goodbye to people you’ve gotten to know, people that you’ve invested your heart, soul and energy into? Of course! But better that than not having anyone to even say good-bye to!
The hard reality is that when we live without urgency, our non-negotiables become negotiated for another day. Thus building, cultivating, and investing in community (i.e. meaningful relationships) will just be put on hold for tomorrow. But sadly, tomorrow often turns into years and we miss the joy of investing in community… in people.
LIVE AS SERVANTS
Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard – active or retired… they are ALL servants. Built into the fabric of who they are and certainly how they are trained is that they are servants to ALL people. Thus serving is not an optional thing, it just what they do because it’s an extension of who they are.
Their prayer is not so much ‘should I serve?’, but ‘where should I serve?’ And because time is short, they often serve where the greatest need is regardless if that need reflects their desires, passions, and gifting.
At GENESIS, we’ve had Generals, Colonels, Majors and Captains all serving from the nursery to facilities, to the parking lot. Not the most glamorous places to serve, but servants are less concerned about where they serve because they’re committed to being who they are… servants.
And the beauty of serving, wherever that might be – whether that be on a Sunday or throughout the week, is that you will have stories of seeing God at work in you, through you, and around you. Yes, there is a cost to serving. Sacrifices will need to be made for those who chose to serve others. But for those who pay the cost and make the necessary sacrifices to serve, they are the ones who will see God.
I don’t need to be in the military to live with urgency.
I don’t need to be in the military to live as a servant.
If I am a follower of Christ, Jesus has modeled for me how to live... urgently and as servants. Thank you military, both active and retired for being tangible examples of how Jesus lived... of how ALL followers of Christ are called to live.
