am I a soldier of the cross

Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?

by Dee Bowman
Southside Church of Christ
Pasadena, Texas

Soldiering is hard work. You have to learn the real meaning of authority, putting your trust in the commander to make the decisions that are best for all concerned. You have to learn hardness and dedication, making sure that your service is first rate. You have to work at the job, knowing that it is not only your responsibility you are bearing, but that others are dependent on you as well. Paul uses this figure in 2 Timothy 2. “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules”

Be strong. Being strong is first of all a mental action. You have to decide to do it. If you would be strong in Jesus Christ, you must study to do so. That means you have to keep a close watch on your spiritual body and see to it that it is getting the right nourishment, the right kinds of spiritual food. If you would be strong you have to get a goodly amount of exercise. Exercise retards lethargy, encourages vitality, brings a sanguine spirit. Attending the services like you ought, getting involved in private meditation, learning the value of prayer. All of these things are actually spiritual exercises. Do you get enough nourishment, enough spiritual exercise to be a good soldier?

Teach others. There is no army that does not have people whose duty is to pass on the instructions. There must be intense efforts to enlist others into the service of the Lord. In our case, this activity is not limited to a few, but is the charge of everyone in the army. It is our duty—yea, our privilege—to recommend the gospel message of salvation to any and all who will hear. We are all recruiters in the army of the Lord.

Endure hardness. Armies exist for two purposes: to fight and to protect. That means the soldiers must endure whatever comes along. Difficulties are part of soldiering and we must learn to endure them. The army of the Lord is no place for the frightful or the timid. It is no place for the tentative and poorly motivated. It requires the best we have to offer to win. Our adversary, the devil, walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). We have to learn to watch for him; and when we encounter him, we must be prepared to resist him so that he retreats and flees from us.

Remain committed. We are not civilians. We are a called out people, responsible for doing the work of God, for conquering a world full of sin and ungodliness. You are part. So am I. We must let the world know that we are not of the world (Col. 3:1-2), that we have a higher mission, a more noble cause, one to which we are totally committed and from which we will not be deterred. We cannot afford to become involved with the world when we have so noble a cause to champion. Our focus must remain strong, our faith solid, our dedication immovable. Commitment means separation from the world and its allurements in preference for the hard life of the solider of Christ.

Strive lawfully. Those that comprise the army must all be dedicated to the same stratagem, committed to the same plan. Just as with an athletic contest, there are rules to follow. You have to stay in your place and do your work. Some duties—duties like watchfulness, personal training, keeping equipment in good working order, and a host of others—are common to all, but some are particular. Each man must do his part—bear his own burden (Gal. 6:2) or the whole is not what it should be. If each one does not follow the rules, he places the whole army in jeapordy.

Put on all the armor. Ephesians 6 tells us what the captain of our salvation requires as the accouterments of our warfare. Notice them quickly. There must be a girdle of truth so that all the other implements of war may be closely attached and ready. The breastplate of righteousness is necessary for the protection of our vital parts. The feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel so that they don’t become tired, weary. And, for the protection of our whole being, the shield of faith. Finally, our head is protected by the helmet of salvation and our offensive weapon is sword of the spirit, the powerful word of God.

As we go out into the world this week, let us—each one of us—make sure he is ready for what will come. Let us be good soldiers. Ask yourself this question today: Am I a soldier of the cross?