I’m a terrible singer. And I’m not just saying that. I can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but thankfully my 6 month old son doesn’t know that. I love to sing praise and worship songs and Noah loves it when I sing to him so everyone wins!
Recently, I’ve been singing old Sunday School songs that I grew up singing along to. One of my favorites is “The Lord’s Army”. Have you heard of it before? Maybe you need a refresher?
I may never march in the infantry
Ride in the cavalry
Shoot the artillery
I may never fly o’er the enemy
But I’m in the Lord’s army!
Yes Sir!
I’m in the Lord’s army!
Yes sir!
I’m in the Lord’s army!
Yes sir!
This song was legit. We were allowed to stand up during this song, because each line had its own motions that made the song even better. During the “Yes Sir!” Part of the song, we would salute our Sunday School teachers and one another, and enthusiastically raise our voices. “Yes Sir!”, we would say as loud as permissible, with grins across our faces. I look back at singing this song, and remember everyone having fun singing it, but it seems like the “Yes Sir!” part sticks out the most.
So yesterday, as I’m singing this song to my little boy while he splashes in the bath tub, I sing it exactly how I remember it, motions and all. Emphasizing the “Yes Sir!” and even saluting to Noah to make him grin back at me. And suddenly my adult heart and my child heart collide and I’m overwhelmed with guilt.
As a Christian, and a soldier for the Lord’s Army, I’m called to say “Yes Sir!” as enthusiastically and happily as I did while singing this song in Sunday School to anything God calls me to do. However, instead of saying “Yes Sir!”, I’m guilty for making excuses.
“You must mean someone else, Lord.”
“I’m not well equipped for that, someone else could do it better.”
“The timing isn’t great.”
“I can’t afford to do that right now.”
“When I’m finished with school.”
“Someone might judge me.”
“I’m too afraid.”
“I don’t know how.”
“I’m too tired.”
“I don’t think I can do it.”
And so on, and so on, and so on.
Friends, this thought hit me like a ton of bricks! Our Heavenly Father is the Commander in Chief of His Army with the very greatest mission in all of the universe which is for others to know His grace and His love so they can spend eternity with Him.
And yet here I am, looking at my feet in doubt when I should be grinning and saluting and yelling “Yes Sir!”
So now, I’m praying that God will take my hands into His. I pray that He will hold my hands that are too often spent wringing in worry and teach them how to salute instead. I pray that I won’t let my own “stuff” get in the way of His mission. I pray that The Lord will use my life and my family as a vessel for His divine mission. I’m praying the same for you, friends.
So here’s to less excuses and more saluting. To saying “Yes Sir!” even when we’re afraid of the order because God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
“But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Joshua 22:5
Love Always,
