You Said Yes to Jesus. Are You Living Like a Disciple of the King?

What the soldiers in my family taught me about identity, humility, and following the King

When “Soldier” Becomes Your Identity

I wasn’t there when my parents became soldiers.

For my dad, I wasn’t born yet. And my mom, I lived in a whole other country. Although, had I been present for the ceremonies, I doubt that it was the actual moment they became “soldiers”.

Same thing with my sons. I was there present and accounted for when they had their “turning green” graduations, when the big sarge slapped the patch on their shoulders, indicating they were now officially lethal weapons of the United States Army. Yet I didn’t witness the exact moment when “soldier” became their identity

Before all the pomp and circumstance, I could see it in their eyes on FaceTime, I heard it in their letters- the shift…

You see this in everyday life. I can walk through the market or mall and point out every person who once served in the military. And if they’re a Marine, well, that’s low-hanging fruit. Marines are easy to spot. Even if they’re crowding 90.

When I visit my dad, though he’s got many health problems (not service-related, mind you🙄), you still see it in how he walks, speaks, and carries himself.

My mom, too. There’s just this… thing.

Children of God—But Who Is This King?

What I find so interesting is that scripture likens us as believers to soldiers a number of times. Soldiers and athletes, actually.

Jesus mentions the Kingdom of God more than a handful of times, which begs the question, so if we are part of a kingdom, what does that make us? I suppose one could say “King’s kids”, but from what I’ve seen, is that lends itself to a bunch of spoiled brats running amok- demanding rights, privileges, their ideal way of life.

We are children of God, yes. But who is this God we proclaim? And then, in light of who He is, who are you?

Humility, Confidence, and a Purposeful Walk

I love going out with my sons now that they’re soldiers because I can see that, though they are lean, mean fighting machines, they don’t flaunt it.

Quite the opposite.

They’ve become incredibly humble. “Thank you, ma’am”, “Thank you, sir,” “Yes, sir, yes ma’am”, to every single person they interact with. I taught them to say that, but the Army enforced THIS is THE way, no matter who you’re speaking to. No matter what they do for you, or to you.

Eye contact.

Confidence.

Straight shoulders.

Purposeful walk.

They can receive discounts, privileges, and honors nearly everywhere they go outside of a military installation, but they tend to forget to ask or look for those rights and privileges. They have to be asked, “Military or prior service,” to remember that there are benefits to serving. It’s not that they forget who they are; it’s just that they didn’t join for privileges.

Conversely, there are professionals who’ve stormed the doors of Black Rifle Coffee Company demanding they, too, deserve a discount. Bless the poor teacher who asked a Marine for a first responder's discount…

The Privileges—and Responsibilities—of Being King’s Children

Have we even earned the right to ask for blessings, rights, privies? Sure, coming to faith in Jesus boasts quite the generous goodie bag.

Same with a soldier. Discounts, VA loans, and access to markets that are slightly less than your average grocery store.

But as with a soldier, you gain access to such blessings through time in service, or in our case, maturity. I think the churchy way to say it is “stewardship.”. And really, we don’t need to think of the privileges, because as King’s kids, they’re automatic- we have more important things to concern ourselves with: the responsibility and duty He has called us to.

As King’s children, if we’re going to go with that label, I wonder- what part of that identity do we align with?

Respect.

Honor.

Confidence.

Purposeful walk.

Immediate obedience.

Unwavering strides?

Or, demanding rights, privileges, arguing with Him over obedience, then joking about it on social media that you just can’t seem to obey His orders to you?

Obedience to the King Has Purpose

One, among many distinctions between God and a Commander, is that the Lord will never ask you to sweep the sidewalk because He needs you to look busy.

Yet, we seem to have this idea that what He asks of us is difficult, ridiculous, or arbitrary and not meaningful.

One of my sons had to wash trucks. In the rain.

Trucks had to be washed, didn’t matter if it was raining.

The King doesn’t give stupid orders like that.

Savior Was Part of His Mission. King Is Who He Is.

When you said yes to Jesus, you weren’t only saying yes to a teacher, or really even a Savior, though He is very much that.

The angels proclaimed Him Savior, the wise men called Him King. Jesus even asked the disciples who they thought He was. They rightly called Him Savior. Which is interesting because He kept telling them about His kingdom. I wonder if they missed the point, too.

Pilate acknowledged Him, King.

He’ll BRB, as King.

Savior was part of His mission. King is who He is.

Savior is part of what He does for you.

King is how we find our identity.

Are You Living From Your Identity as a Disciple of the King?

At what point in your time in service to our God did your identity shift from getting “saved” to being a disciple of THE King?

Do you operate from that position?

Do you wake up every morning and wonder what’s on the King’s agenda?

When you move about the world, can people immediately recognize you as a disciple of the King, as I can recognize a service member?

A soldier doesn't wake up every morning and decide whether he's a soldier. He operates from an identity he's already received and moves, acts, and responds accordingly.

A King’s child, too, ought to wake up, know who they are, and move accordingly, decisively, and without hesitation.