I’ve been reading a YA adult series (I’ll post a review soon), The Ranger’s Apprentice. The main character is a boy chosen to be a ranger’s apprentice. A ranger, in the land of this story, is part of an elite group of men who provide information and advice to the king about what is happening throughout the kingdom. They are an intelligence force and, if necessary execute justice. Their primary allegiance is to the king, even though they are each attached to a different fiefdom as that noble’s advisor. For the most part, they live solitary lives. They cannot afford to become entangled in relationships and concerns that are not in the king’s best interest. And there is the natural tendency of others to shun them for that same reason.

         As I’ve read, I can’t help but see parallels to the Christian life. In 2 Timothy, Paul reminds Timothy “No-one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.”

         If we call ourselves disciples of the Lord Jesus, our actions should reveal Him and His vision. Our lives should be spent attending to those things we know are important to Him. And, yes, sometimes our devotion to Him will cause others to shun us. That is the lot of one called Christian.

         But it is also the lot of a Christian to be a part of a family, a family comprised of those redeemed into the kingdom of God’s Son. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3), we have been set free (Gal 5:1) and we are to walk in the grace and power of His Spirit (Gal 6:18-25). We chose and have been chosen to be part of an elite group of followers of a King worthy of our loyalty. And the amazing thing? He extends the invitation to join that elite group to each and every person of this world. Are you His apprentice? Won’t you join me as we learn His ways?