The first article of the Code of Conduct is, “I am an American fighting in the forces that guard my country and our way of life, I am prepared to give my life in their defense.” The heart of the Code is love. Dying for the country is love.
In John 15:13, Jesus says, “No one has greater love than this, that someone will lay down his life for his friends.” Dying for friends is love.
Carol Goldman was diagnosed with cancer but delayed treatment to give her unborn child a chance to live. The baby was born, but Carol died from cancer. Dying for family is love.
Jesus saw humanity trapped in death. He laid down His life so that we might live, even though we didn’t know Him. Dying for strangers is love.
Neither you nor I have died yet, but we can still show the love of Jesus anyway. Short of giving our lives, will we give up personal freedoms, prerogatives, snide Facebook posts, or social standing for love’s sake? If we fail to love in the little things, how shall we love when lives are on the line? A willingness to die for others is negated by an unwillingness to live for others. Living for others is also love.
The Christian has a code of conduct greater and more powerful than any earthly military. Are you up to the challenge? Jesus doesn’t have a recruiting office, but if you sit down with me over an open Bible, we can study how to enlist in Christ’s army.
Photo by israel palacio on Unsplash
