Faith Capsule: A committed Christ soldier cannot escape hardship in this world of wickedness.
2 Timothy 2
A soldier is defined as a person who serves in an army or anenlistedmanorwoman. Going by definition of soldier, a soldier for Christ can be described as one who serves Christ. To be Serving God demands serving Him diligently. Serving God is seeking God. Seeking God diligently is packed with rewards from God to those who seek Him diligently. Hebrews 11:6 buttressed, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligentlyseek Him.” Are you an acclaimed soldier of Jesus Christ? Do you seek Him first in all that you are seeking? Many seek Him by the word of the mouth but how do you seek Him? It is written, “But seekfirst the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Serving (seeking) Him is not a funfair because it comes with pain and challenges. However, with endurance the pain shall yield to unending gain.
An eligible and qualified soldier for Christ has to be a sold out soul for the cause of the cross. Paul, the apostle, admonished Timothy, “You therefore must endurehardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4) The first notable statement in Paul’s illustration for faithfulness is that a soldier (follower of Christ) must endure hardship. Unfortunately, Christian soldiers today do not want to endure hardship, but rather want to engage funfair and worldly pleasures. Endurance can be painful and can possibly generate unwanted suffering. However, enduring hardship is what qualifies a Christian soldier as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Every Christian soldier will have to know how to endure because a committed one cannot escape hardship in this world of wickedness.
Clearly, Christian soldiers who will not have to endure or face any of the challenges of this world are the ones that often entangle themselves with the affairs of this life. The apostle Paul emphasized that no one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life because it is not possible to serve two masters. Are you a Christian soldier by mouth or by act? A Christian soldier need not to be introduced as a soldier because his warlike disposition will always point him out as one who is operating as a sold-out soul for the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you a soldier who will always need constant introduction as a soldier? It is worthy to live life as good soldier of Jesus Christ that needs no introduction.
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be protected from fleshly lust that you may please One that enlisted you.