Over the last few
weeks we have looked at the fact that Christians are in the army of the Lord,
called into battle against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places. Today we
are going to look at how to be a good soldier. These verses tell us to endure
hardships as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Many people wrongly believe that once they give their lives to Christ they will no longer have to worry about facing hard times. In reality, the opposite is true. If you do not believe in God, or you are not living for Him (praying, reading His word, witnessing, living righteously, etc.) then Satan will not waste his time on you. But once you become sold out for Christ the enemy will put a big target on you. This is for the same reason that armies would rather take out a general than a private. If Satan is not tempting you or trying to make you doubt or give up on God, or trying to entice you with some false doctrine, then you have to ask yourself, “Why not?”
Our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have to endure hardships: they miss children’s birthdays, their wedding anniversaries, Christmases, etc. But they cannot give up because they are good soldiers and they have their orders.
II Timothy 2:4 says “No soldier entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please the one who has chosen him to be a soldier.” A soldier cannot get wrapped up in what is happening back home—whether politics, sports, or family, because he has to focus on his mission. Today, many of God’s soldiers get entangled with the things of this life, and they forget their orders. This does not please the One who called us to be soldiers.
So stay focused on the mission. Love God and love others. Tell people about Jesus and pull them from the fire. Pray. Read God’s word. Be sanctified. And don’t let the non-essentials distract you from your orders. Next time God leads you to tell someone about Him, respond with a “Sir, Yes Sir!”
Many people wrongly believe that once they give their lives to Christ they will no longer have to worry about facing hard times. In reality, the opposite is true. If you do not believe in God, or you are not living for Him (praying, reading His word, witnessing, living righteously, etc.) then Satan will not waste his time on you. But once you become sold out for Christ the enemy will put a big target on you. This is for the same reason that armies would rather take out a general than a private. If Satan is not tempting you or trying to make you doubt or give up on God, or trying to entice you with some false doctrine, then you have to ask yourself, “Why not?”
Our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have to endure hardships: they miss children’s birthdays, their wedding anniversaries, Christmases, etc. But they cannot give up because they are good soldiers and they have their orders.
II Timothy 2:4 says “No soldier entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please the one who has chosen him to be a soldier.” A soldier cannot get wrapped up in what is happening back home—whether politics, sports, or family, because he has to focus on his mission. Today, many of God’s soldiers get entangled with the things of this life, and they forget their orders. This does not please the One who called us to be soldiers.
So stay focused on the mission. Love God and love others. Tell people about Jesus and pull them from the fire. Pray. Read God’s word. Be sanctified. And don’t let the non-essentials distract you from your orders. Next time God leads you to tell someone about Him, respond with a “Sir, Yes Sir!”
No comments:
Post a Comment