December 14th

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3

The battlefield is not the place for ease, comfort or continual pleasure. We do not like to think about it, but our lives are actually a battlefield where good is battling evil for control and domination. Unfortunately, we are caught right in the middle of this each day. This means that we must be trained as soldiers to do battle for Jesus Christ, who is the Commander of the Lord’s army.

Soldiers do not pick that profession because they want an easy life. Paul says that we must learn to endure hardship to be a true soldier for Jesus our Lord. Hardship means that we must do battle with fear, intimidation and temptation among others and put Jesus Christ in control of our thoughts and actions. We also must be willing physically to discipline our bodies and sometimes endure having very little but remaining content. When our minds and bodies are under the control of Jesus Christ, a mature and capable soldier emerges in God’s army.