The 11th US Marines General Order for Sentries
By Capt Eric Kalrider
Last Wednesday night during our ZOOM prayer meeting, I mentioned the U.S. Marine Corps’ General Orders for Sentries and shared the 11th from the list. Here is Number 10: “To salute all officers, and all colors and standards not cased.” For those not exchanging military salutes every day (and maybe some who are), let me give some background and then draw a spiritual parallel. “Salute” comes from a Latin word for greeting, with a related root meaning “health.” Do you live in a place where people walk right past each other without saying a word? From one place to another, greeting customs vary widely in emphasis. Among U.S. Marines, however, saluting makes the top ten. Modern military salutes hearken back to a time when knights wore visors covering their faces, which they would lift with their right hand for two purposes: 1) to show their eyes/face and reveal their identity as a friend--not a stranger, someone in disguise, or from a hostile force, and 2) to show their knife hand was empty.
As a matter of protocol, one who is junior in rank initiates the salute, and the senior person responds by returning this formal greeting—as a sign of mutual respect between professional warriors who serve the same nation (or allies). “Colors and standards” are various types of flags or banners representing the country, the service, a unit—or representing an officer (generals or admirals); these standards are saluted in recognition of what they represent. It is interesting that colors and standards only merit a salute when “not cased”--that is to say, not furled or covered; because only when carried openly can we first identify the image/design and see what they stand for.
Throughout the New Testament, we are repeatedly instructed to greet or “salute” one another, and Jesus specifically challenged us not to limit our greetings to people we already know. There is an aspect of reinforcing dignity in this, showing your face, showing respect, and showing you care. Saluting officers over us and flags in the same manner, reflects the fact that our salute actually honors not just the person or even the flag itself, but more so what each represents. This custom also suggests a direct link between an officer’s commission and the sovereign kingdom or national authority behind it. Let’s keep that idea in mind for later. Meanwhile, in all of these examples, a common thread is some level of openness and/or love—and somebody has to initiate.
“We love him, because he first loved us” (I John 4:19). Are you feasting on His love daily? Are you aware that He has made His Love a distinctive banner over you? Is His holy love growing like fruit in you and coming out from all your branches…are you getting so full of love you can’t contain it? Let your spirit get a load of that. He loved us first. How? (See John 3:16; Rom. 5:8.; James 1:18.) Now in the verses just before and after I John 4:19, check out God’s powerful, Holy Spirit context for us loving Him (and notice His calling’s purpose…our mission):
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
That sounds like pretty much the same combo we saw in Romans 8:28…called according to His purpose (in 1 Jn. 4, filled with His love and brought into mature fearlessness in His love), actively loving God in response to His preemptive loveàthings work together for good for us as we advance in the Commander’s global mission…accountable to God’s truth, not making excuses for hate or any pretense of love, and really loving our brother. Let’s check the scriptures: is the pattern repeated elsewhere? How about in John 15:16-17?
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Earlier in the same chapter, Jesus explained that bearing fruit involves us abiding in Him, and He in us—as a matter of life or death. In these two verses we see first that the Lord calls us or chooses us completely of His own will…second, that this call comes with a purpose (that we should GO…and bring forth fruit…). Third, we see that before addressing issues such as how we will face external opposition, worldly hatred, and persecution (and how the Comforter…the Spirit of Truth was coming, and what for), Jesus summarized all His previous direction about the divine love mission with a very important reminder regarding the nature of everything He said: “I command you….” Nice suggestions from a moral teacher? No: His words constitute a direct order from the Commander.
Maybe this should shed new light for us on the Great Commission (see Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24). "…Go…." The LORD of Hosts issues an order, noting that all (supreme, complete and total) authority in heaven and earth resides in Jesus Christ. While the command or order requires action in those He calls, it also reveals something that should fill us with great hope and excitement: His plan actually involves the Commander being present with us in this kingdom mission, which extends unto “all the world” and “every creature.” Calling all disciples: Are you ready?