Recently, I had the great privilege and honor of being pinned full-bird colonel in the Army. I humbly and thankfully accepted that blessing. However, that rank does not define me, for “I am a royal son of God that just happens to be a colonel.” For being “in Christ” is what defines a person. “You are” statements in scripture are what defines a person, and what makes his or her life rich. Notice I Peter 2:9-10: “but you are a chosen race, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to…” In Christ, you are now a royal member of the nation called the kingdom of God; you are now a people owned by God as your King; you are a people of God, called into His marvelous light; and you are a recipient of mercy. Since you are a part of another kingdom, you are now called an “alien and stranger” to this earth/world. “You are now ambassadors for Christ, who has given you the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) Can you now say, “I am a royal son/daughter that just happens to be a __? If not, be a recipient of John 1:12 and enter into your new definition.
—Col. Jeff Mitchell, state chaplain, Louisiana National Guard
