A good soldier understands sacrifice.
“Take your share of the hardships and suffering, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:3)
I am glad this scripture is in the Bible. Probably because suffering and persecution played an integral role in the establishment of the early church. Jesus even taught such key lessons as, “count the cost,” “don’t look back,” and “lose your life for my sake.”
Every advancement will have a cost and will require something from us in order to move into it. If the Body of Christ is likened to an army we have to understand that our objectives are more important than our comfort. “Fighting a good fight” of faith will require us to endure and persevere regardless of how we feel. We will have to press on in times when everything appears to be going against us and we feel like quitting.
The cushy, shallow, non-sacrificial, “what’s-in-it-for-me” gospel is only received in the West where materialism and consumerism drive the culture. At the same time in other parts of the world believers are struggling to survive and some are being martyred for their faith. In that context, an encouragement like the one above can be of great comfort in a time of extreme testing.
God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. The provision of heaven is sufficient for us to fulfill our purposes. Stay focused on your kingdom assignments and objectives and be diligent to see them through to completion. You will receive your due reward.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that day — and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7,8)
1 response so far ↓
1 Jonathan Greene // Mar 13, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I think this article is brilliant, and I also think that most Western Christians won’t touch it with a ten foot pole. We live in a culture where preaching ten minutes past noon will cause a Pastor to be strung up on the steeple. Our culture is so divorced from the concept of sacrifice that we have forfeited our dominion in many cases because we’re too lazy to ‘contend.’
Thankfully, there is a remnant who understands that Kingdom living is an adventure, and that sacrifice is part of the price of admission to the greatest adventure, the great commission. I believe there is a generation coming that will actually embrace sacrifice as a personal mission on a epic scale in order to finish the great commission.
Can you smell what Juan Verde is cooking?
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