“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of
Jesus Christ. No one entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he
may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2.3-4
Be
a soldier.
I was eighteen years old when I signed to
join the Michigan Army National Guard. I raised my right hand and took an oath
to defend the United States of American and the State of Michigan against all
enemies foreign and domestic. I gave the government full control of my life to
do with it as they saw fit. No matter what was taking place in my life that
would serve as second place to the military for the next six years. I had no
choice in the matter I made a commitment. Many of us are related to soldiers or
know soldiers. We know the commitment they have made and are held to that. We
know the sacrifice that comes with deployment orders. When we become Christians
we are to be the same way.
Christians are soldiers of Jesus Christ.
Not physical soldiers but spiritual soldiers. When you accept Christ as your
Savior you agree that everything else becomes second to God. You agreed on that
commitment. This is what God expects of you. For the rest of your life God
expects everything in your life to be second place to Him. The Father gave His best;
He expects your best in return. What does that mean?
Obviously God does not want all of us in
vocational ministry. We all have our jobs. The apostle Paul actually made tents
for a living. Surrender is what God wants: Our life, our hopes, dreams,
vocation, family, our past our present and our future. He wants everything
because He wants to have an intimate relationship with us. When we keep a part
of lives from God’s control we cheat ourselves from His blessings. God wants us
to do everything we do as if we are offering it to him. He does not care how
much we accomplish in life as long as we get to know Him better. A good saying
is “let go and let God.” Let God be in control of every facet of your life. As
Christians we have already signed the recruitment papers. We are God’s and He
is ours. He has already made good on His end let us make good on ours. Let us
not get entangled in life. Let us get entangled with the Father and let Him do
with us as He will. Don’t be a God deserter. Be a God soldier.
What does God want for my life?
Does He want me to change anything in my
life?
How can I focus more on Him?
Have I surrendered my entire being to Him?
Does my life honor God right now?
Am I a God soldier or a God deserter?
