“Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer.”
2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NRS)
Today Americans applaud the sacrifices made by our veterans. We are grateful for their service to us, their fellow citizens. They have helped maintained the marvelous freedoms we enjoy in this great nation.
During warfare, the folks back home seldom understand the suffering a soldier experiences. While no one enjoys hardships, a good soldier doesn’t grouse about it because he or she knows that victory comes to those who overcome.
In addition, the soldier refuses to allow distractions. The soldier’s focus is constantly on the assigned objective. He or she focuses firmly on obedience to the commander’s orders.
What a tremendous picture the Apostle Paul paints for the Christian.
While we properly honor our veterans and soldiers and the sacrifices they have made, let us also remember that each of us is a soldier in the service of the King of Kings. While ours is a spiritual war, it is no less important to eternity and the souls of those around us.
Dear Father, thank you for the sacrifice you have made for us. Thank you for the victories you give. Forgive us for the whining we do. Forgive us for allowing the cares of this life to entangle us. Empower us to focus firmly on the objective you have given us. Enable us to defeat the enemy by obeying you. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for our veterans and pray for our soldiers who put their lives between the enemy and our freedoms,
Pastor Smith