FRIDAY June 6, 2025

The Soldier

You therefore must endure hardship 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

Paul launched a strategy to be used in ministry in his threefold analogy. The metaphor he used to get his point over to Timothy was that of a soldier, an athlete, and then a farmer. He began with the soldier. Paul had suffered extraordinary hardships in ministry. As a pastor, Timothy would experience similar hardships, and to help him, Paul wanted Timothy to see himself as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

In every way, a solider is trained to endure hardships; he learns to be disciplined to stand and fight battles against the enemy. Timothy had to view himself as a soldier. As a pastor, he was enlisted in a spiritual battle. He must be a disciplined soldier to endure the fight on the forefront of the battle lines. Ministry is full of hardships; it is not for the weak-hearted.

As a believer, you, too are engaged in spiritual warfare. Can you endure hardships? It will help you tremendously as a Christian if you view yourself as a soldier, fighting in a spiritual warfare against Satan and his demons:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

Train yourself in God’s Word and pay attention to the instructions on how you are to fight and have victory as you engage in spiritual warfare. The Bible tells us that we are to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). When you have experienced hardships on the battlefield, you will be able to minister to other people who are going through hard times.

The Church needs men and women who are good soldiers of Jesus Christ. When you became a Christian, who enlisted you? Jesus Christ! Set your heart to please Him and do not get entangled with the cares of this life. Yes, we have to live in the world, but we are not of the world.

This is no time for wimpy Christians. It's time for soldiers of Christ to arise!
~Alistair Begg~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!