Wiser and Happier: Special Military Edition from Time of GraceSample

Waking Up: Remember whom you serve

Wouldn’t it be silly if a receptionist answered the phone and didn’t know the name of the company she was representing? Wouldn’t it be silly if a sales rep never mentioned the name of his company? Wouldn’t it be silly if the player acted as if she were the coach? Wouldn’t it be silly if a recruit started acting as if he were the drill sergeant?

Silly but believable. People do the same thing to God all the time. We all go through foggy stretches where we get confused about our mission in life. We forget that we’re all foot soldiers in God’s regiment and that our great purpose in life is to give God glory, receive and reflect his love, and act as his agents in bringing benefit to the lives of other people. That’s why you were created. That’s why you were redeemed.

You are where you are because your superiors have decided that you should be there. Today, this week, this month, your purpose is to faithfully carry out the mission to which you have been assigned. God willing, there will be other missions for you down the road. But what is your life’s mission, your life’s main purpose? Here’s one way to put it: “In all your ways acknowledge him” (Proverbs 3:6). That doesn’t mean we neglect our other responsibilities. We throw ourselves into our work headfirst, knowing that ultimately we are serving our loving and gracious God in whatever we do. And isn’t it amazing how much easier our daily decision making gets and how much more fulfilling our daily tasks become when we begin the day by saying, “God, I am working for you today. Thanks for letting me into your regiment.”