Service Before Self  


Code of Conduct     I am an American fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

Oath of Service  I, ___________,  having been appointed a ______________________in the United States Air Force, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies ,foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;

These two excerpts describe the heart of military service in a nutshell. We know what our service is about  (The constitution and legal government of the United States) and we are called to defend our constitution, to the death if necessary. Learning that life is about more than self and gain is the first step in any moral character, but it is also a key spiritual principle as well

The man who lives by himself and for himself is apt to be corrupted by the company he keeps. (Charles Henry Parkhurst)

When Jesus disciples were arguing over who was the greatest, Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. (NIV)

For the Follower of Christ, service is a daily lifestyle

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. (Luke 9:23-25)
We must make choices each day whether we will be willing to serve, or if we just want to serve ourselves. The real choice is not whether to serve or not, but who or what we will serve.

Joshua 24:14-16

14 "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD

Service is nothing but love in work clothes