March 1996. I landed in San Diego, California to start my journey into becoming a Marine. Immediately, I was told to get on a bus. The bus was headed to Marine Corps Recruit Depot and those famous yellow footprints. That was the beginning of a journey that would change the rest of my life. Almost immediately upon arrival, my Drill instructors reminded me that I was not worthy to be called a Marine or even look at other Marines. Yes, I wore a uniform every day, but I didn’t look like the rest. My uniform was wrinkled. I couldn’t roll up my sleeves. My pants were unbloused and my cover was a mess. I had no identifiers on my uniform. Unlike other Marines, my uniform lacked the US Marine patch, the Eagle Globe, and anchor on the pocket. I had nothing to identify that I was in the Marine Corps. This shocked me to my core.
Over the next three months, I earned the right to wear my uniform differently because I wanted the distinction my fellow marines donned with their uniform. I was taught to take pride in how I looked. This was not just a uniform that I wore. This uniform said that I was a United States Marine and that I belonged to something bigger than myself. I represented the people that came before me and would represent the people who come after me. Because of the sacrifices that I made, I was now set apart from others. From that day forward every time I put on the uniform, I would stand a little taller, feel more confident, and know that I was a part of something bigger than myself.
Colossians 3:12 says, “Since God Chose you to be the holy (set apart) people he loves, you must clothe yourself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
What would happen if I approached my relationship with God the same way I took to wearing the uniform. What if I got up every morning and clothed myself in mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience? I would stand a little taller and walk with a little more confidence. God has set us apart and calls us his children. It is our responsibility to make the daily decision to get up and put on His uniform. When we do this, we know we are making a difference in the world. It is our mission to choose to live a life set apart. Not because we are better than others, rather just different. We are charged with a mission; a mission to live a life that is an example to others and that is a witness for the Kingdom. When I put on my Marine Corps uniform, it said to people around me that I was a Marine. They had different expectations of me. I had a responsibility to the Marine Corps, my country, and to myself. By clothing ourselves with the uniform of God, we carry a divine responsibility to our Heavenly Father.
The Forge 