"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." - 2 Timothy 2:3
What's good friends! I'm just getting in from work and I just wanted to drop a few thoughts that were on my heart. I clown a lot, laugh a lot, and I am a pretty free flowing type of dude. When push comes to shove however, I want to be a good soldier for Jesus Christ. Paul says in his second letter to Timothy, that Timothy must, "... endure hardness as a good soldier......". I'm experiencing hardness in my life right now. My task is not only to endure it, but to endure it as a good soldier. Nowadays the word soldier is thrown around fairly nonchalantly and has lost some of it's true meaning just by it's overuse. Unfortunately, soldier is a term that has been applied to every dude who has put in work in the street, every athlete that plays a little injured, every rapper that considers himself a thug, etc. I feel for the true men and women in uniform who have to endure sharing a title with some who deserve it so little. But even among the people in uniform, there are good soldiers, and there are bad soldiers. Those, that follow instruction from Headquarters, and those that don't. Those that stay on the battlefield even when things look bleak, and those that desert their comrades. Those that endure the hardness that a true soldier's life is bound to bring, and those that go AWOL. Those that risk their lives and comfort for the sake of others (be it ally or civilian) , and those that put their own survival and comfort first.
There are several things that make up a good soldier. But today is just today. I can only fight today's battle, today. Today I'm dealing with uncomfortable circumstances in my life, in other words, hardness. If you aren't there today, that's fine....... you don't have to be there to feel this. Chances are you've been there, or soon will be. I'm not whining or complaining, I'm just being honest about my situation. Yeah Mr. Hardness is staying at my crib for a little while LOL, I tried to show him the door, but he refused to go. So since he's here, I can leave where I'm supposed to be, and set up camp somewhere easier to exist, or, I can endure his visit like a good soldier. A good soldier would not abandon his mission, because things have gotten a little rough. Constantly ducking and dodging, and rerouting to avoid hardness is not the good soldiers way. Paul said to endure it. I'm not running from the mission God gave me, just to escape some hardness, 'cause that's the enemies plan. He wants to make the battlefield so discouraging, so depressing, so intimidating, so hard, that you forsake your mission, to find a less hard road. But where would that road lead? I'm going to give thanks, hum some tunes that encourage me, let the Lord do what he does (which is take me over and through, and endure my little season of hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
I agree with this wholeheartedly, I am reminded of a poster I read and copied. It has been a blessing to me and a reminder of just what it means to be a "SOLDIER" in the army of the Lord. Here is to all of you Real Soldiers out there that may need a reminder as well. You were RECRUITED: before the foundation of the world, while you were yet in your sin.INDUCTED: when we were baptized in water and spirit and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. TRAINED: daily by the Holy Spirit and taught by trials and suffering, learning obedience through tribulation and suffering. COMMISSIONED: to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God and the Good News throughout the world. EQUIPPED:For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to obedience of Christ. PROMOTED: through humility, sacrifice,endurance,and obedience. COMMENDED: His Lord said unto him, well done good and faithful servant, thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. It seems to me that so many of the Real Soldiers are in the process of promotion. My prayer is that the Lord will continue to help us to endure until the end. God bless
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