2 TIMOTHY 2:3-4 – Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”
THEME OF THE DAY: ENLISTED IN THE LORD’S ARMY. Ever serve in the military? If you’re a Christian, the answer is “Yes, I am currently on active duty.” Obviously, I am not referring to a literal sense of service in our Armed Forces. Some of you have, and for that I thank you for your service. It is hard. It is sacrificial. I know. I did it with you for twenty-four years in the world’s finest Navy. However, as today’s nugget theme implies, “If you’re a Christian, you are in the military, the Lord’s army, and that for life.” Go back and read today’s scripture. Welcome to the army, fellow soldier!
In military life there are many lessons that teach us about the Christian life. The Apostle Paul in writing to his spiritual son and pastor, Timothy, reminds him that suffering is the lot for Christ’s people, and it is suffering as a soldier in a war we are in. But let’s expand some truths about actual military life that apply to the Christian life. First, those in military service are under orders to obey, not consider. There is a clear line drawn between leaders and subordinates. Leaders give orders and subordinates obey them. Such allegiance ensures good order and discipline are maintained by the giving and executing of orders. The Lord Jesus said, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). That statement does not apply to good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Good soldiers obey His orders without delay.
Next, honorable military service demands the exercise of assigned duties faithfully and diligently. What those serving in our armed forces are called to do is their assigned jobs without “cutting corners” or in a half-hearted manner. There is no room for laziness or indifference. It is a call to arduous duty with a diligence and commitment that is nothing short of excellent. As disciples of the Lord Jesus, nothing short of our best is expected, and rightly so, He is the best Master a person would ever have. Again, from the Apostle Paul to Timothy showing us the example of a noble soldier on how to perform duties – Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
A third quality in a good soldier is the refusal to allow distractions to keep him or her from performing duties. We live in the age of distractions. So many things pull for our attention that what is happening is the weakening of our ability to say “no” to distractions. In military life, distractions are immediately dismissed or removed. The soldier knows his or her highest priorities are orders obeyed and duties performed. Distractions are enemies, and enemies are not catered to, but defeated. In the Christian life there are many things seeking to distract us from time with the Lord to cultivate the spiritual life. Jesus would give a good principle for duty in His army with His exhortation to Martha – Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42).
Finally, a soldier fulfills his or her obligation. We signed up and we finish what we committed to. It isn’t like a civilian job that may be terminated at any time. Nor may we walk away from military life when we feel like it. No, we are under a contract to be completed. In our walks with the Lord Jesus, we enlisted for life. No walking away when it is hard. No terminating early. We finish what we committed to. And the best of soldiers in the Lord’s army was the Apostle Paul, and his “enlistment” in the Lord’s army ended with these words, and so must ours – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).
PRAYER: “Father, remind me often I am in the Lord’s army under orders that are to be obeyed not considered.”
QUOTE: “The life of a soldier is hard, sacrificial, and demands the best of us, but we are led by the Greatest of Captains.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim