Like A Good Soldier
2 Timothy 2:3-4 - Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.
Today was family day at Fort Leonard Wood for the brand new Soldiers of the US Army. My son, Mikey, is one of them. Tomorrow is his graduation. He has endured a lot of suffering to get to where he is today. Basic Combat Training (BCT) is every bit as strenuous and difficult as you might imagine. Long days, little sleep, getting yelled at, getting smoked, separation from family, and on it goes. In addition, he experienced real persecution for his faith during BCT. Today, he couldn't hold his wife's hand while we were in public because it's against regulations. He leaves again on Friday for the next phase of his training and he won't see her for many more weeks. This will not end, because it is the work of Soldiers to sacrifice their rights, their liberties, and their lives for the sake of others...
...and so it is with you. If you are truly a follower of Christ, then you are a Soldier. You lay aside the things of this life for your commander, Jesus. You suffer for the sake of others, so they can be rescued from darkness and welcomed into the Kingdom of God. If we are unwilling to suffer, then we are not following. If we are not following, then we are not in the family.
So, suffer like a good Soldier. Let's go rescue some souls!
SONGS FOR SUNDAY
How Great Thou Art
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjWZz90hj4I
King of Kings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of5IcFWiEpg
King of my Heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbBQ94PZEkE
Raise a Hallelujah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2XtRuPfaAU
...and we are learning
Same God