Scripture to Read: 2 Timothy 2:3-4
Through Paul, God encourages Timothy (and us) to walk through the difficulties of this life which we have been called to endure. We are to face the challenges “as a good soldier” of our Lord Jesus Christ. A soldier trains for battle, for the soldier recognizes that facing battles is what they have enlisted to do. As Christians, we surrendered to Christ, also realizing that we were signing up for spiritual warfare. Jesus tells us that we must be willing to die to ourselves if we are going to follow Him. Jesus makes this clear in Luke 9:23-24 “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” As a soldier of our Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus also makes this truth clear, about dying to ourselves, in Matthew 10:38 and Luke 14:27. We also read in 2 Timothy 2:4 that a soldier stays focused on their call and does not get caught up in the junk of this world so that they please the one who enlisted them. We must guard our hearts against getting sidetracked with the things of this world that rob us of our time. We must be ready for battle by putting on God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10-18), recognizing that every part of God’s armor is Him and His Word. We will unpack more in tomorrow’s devotion.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about being a good soldier for Him and His Kingdom?
2. How are you preparing for the battlefield each day as you walk with our Lord Jesus Christ?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!