Disgracing the Uniform

 "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."  2 Timothy 2:4

The other day, my son went with me to the local Air Force Base and in order for him to be able to enter the Base, he needed a Visitor's Pass, so we stopped at Pass and I.D.  We walked in and told the soldier behind the desk that we needed a Visitor's Pass, gave him the required information for the Pass and then took seats while we waited.  What happened as we waited shocked me.  I witnessed flirtatious bantering, personal phone calls, and inappropriate behavior.  After twenty minutes of this, I walked up to the two soldiers behind the desk and calmly said, "Have we just come to play today, or are we working?" They paused for a moment and one of them said, "It takes a few minutes to get the Pass, Ma'am."  I said, "I realize that.  I'm not talking about the waiting period; I'm talking about your behavior; I have never seen such unprofessional behavior from a soldier in Uniform before."  I could see them thinking about what I just said, and then they both apologized and began to act accordingly.  

I later called my husband and told him about the incident and sadly, he said, "This generation does not follow in the steps of the Soldiers who have served before them."

As my son and I walked out of the Pass and I.D. building, this thought crossed my mind:

"Have I behaved unprofessionally in my Uniform?"

Have there been times that my behavior would shock those who are watching me?

Am I walking in the steps of my Christian brothers and sisters who have served before me?

Do I realize Whose Army I've enlisted?

Would my Saviour have to bring it to my attention?  Would Jesus have to say, 'I have never seen such unprofessional behavior from one of my children in uniform before?

Uniform you say?

Yes, our Christian Uniform.  Our testimonies, our robes of righteousness, our Armor of God.

    Do I disgrace this uniform?

        Or do I bring honor and glory to the One I wear my uniform for?

            Gave me something to think about...

                But that's just me!

"A true and faithful Christian does not make holy living an accidental thing.  It is his great concern.  As the business of the soldier is to fight, so the business of the Christian to be like Christ."  Jonathan Edwards