When the pressure is on, in what or in whom do we choose to trust?

The United States Marines go through a serious and focused training.  Historically, it’s the branch of the military trusted to hit the beach first, and be thoroughly prepared to survive uncertain and life-threatening encounters.  Obviously, as civilians, we will never be asked to hit the beach in the physical fitness and life-threatening way of a marine.  Their inner drive or attitude, however, is something from which we can choose to benefit.  When life is really on the line, truth prevails and nonsense has no place.

Famed writer Oswald Chambers suggested we make it a practice to stir our minds thoroughly to think through what we have easily believed.  He said the author or speaker from whom we learn the most is not the one who teaches us something we didn’t already know, but the one who helps us take a truth with which we have quietly struggled, give it expression, and speak it clearly and boldly.  If we learn and apply the basic tenets or foundational beliefs of the United States Marine Corps listed clearly and boldly below, we’ll be able to hit our life beaches and the challenges that face us this week with a never-give-up attitude.  Please sense the influence of God’s Word in the foundation of what our Marine Corp relies.

* Tell the truth.

* Do your best no matter how trivial the task.

* Choose the difficult right way over the easy wrong way.

* Look out for the group before you look out for yourself.

* Don’t whine or make excuses.

* Judge others by their actions, not their race.

Family and friends, as believers, disciples, followers, servants, and soldiers in the Corps of Christ, let’s be inspired and have a victorious week!

Psalm 18:2; 1 Tim: 1:8-12