Good Soldiers

**“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him” (2 Timothy 2:4).**

Paul wrote in the book of Timothy, about believers being good soldiers in the army of God. Soldiers who are enlisted, live in confined or designated areas and undergo special training, to prepare them for battle. Similarly, believers have been enlisted into a mission and mandate to advance the kingdom of God. Every one of us has an assignment which we have been born to accomplish. Some of us will use singing and music to draw people to God; other people use preaching and teaching the word; for some people it is acts of service or the gift of encouragement.

Whatever the gift that God has entrusted to you, it is to be used for the establishment of the kingdom of God. Paul was saying that a soldier who is at war, does not have the time to become involved in civilian affairs. In other words, a soldier is focused on their assignment. Our battle and fight is for the faith and against principalities and powers. Our faith and belief in Jesus Christ is constanly under attack by this world system. Contrary ideas and doctrines seek to sway us from the truth of God’s word and to lead us astray with lies.

“But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:16). We have to guard our tongue and watch what we say. The devil is after our words and will try to use what we say to ensnare us. Remember that life and death is in the tongue and we have whatever we decree. We have to guard against deception, pray always and continue to surrender our lives completely to God. A life that is fully surrendered brings glory to God. We are called with a high calling in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). We cannot afford to be distracted by the world’s trials and cares.

Our case is different and things don’t affect the church in the same way that it affects the world. We are set apart for God and his hand of protection is on our lives. We cannot give in to fear, worry and anxiety. Soldiers are trained to run towards situations that other people run away from. War is never an easy situation to experience and enemy fire will always be directed towards us. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

A.P.-Y.