Today is the actual Veterans Day on the national calendar. It is a day set aside to honor our armed services veterans for their dedicated service to our country. They may have served on land or in the air or on the seas. Their service may have been decades ago, or just this year. The service they provided may have been on a front line or in an office. The time they spent in service may have been very short or extended over many years. No matter when and in what capacity they served, our veterans deserve our special thanks.
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer... Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:1-4, 8-10 NIV
There are some other soldiers we need to remember - those who serve in the army of Jesus, soldiers of the cross. Our ministers/pastors have dedicated their lives to serving their commander, God. Each of us has likely benefitted in many ways from the pastors that have touched our lives. They share the Gospel with us and teach us how to apply God's word to our daily lives. In fact, each one of us has a ministry here on earth. God gives us each gifts to be used to his glory in the furthering of his Kingdom. We are all soldiers for the Lord. Paul's letter to Timothy uses this example:
Dear Father and commander in Heaven, please give us the strength and the courage to be dedicated soldiers of the cross in the battleground here on earth. Thank you for giving us the victory of everlasting life in Jesus Christ. Help us to deliver this gift to others. May we always be grateful for the gifts of your Holy Spirit and use them to your glory. In the name of Jesus, whose death and resurrection gives us the victory in heaven. Amen.
written by Jan Andersen
Jan,
ReplyDeleteI never thought of "soldiering" in this way. People are soldiers in every place that God puts them. Thank you for this thought provoking picture you have presented us of the call to be soldiers in any place we find ourselves.
Blessings!!