People aren’t drafted or conscripted to serve in the United States armed services anymore, but every Christian man is called by God to live the soldier’s life. He may never don an army or navy uniform, but he must accept the commission to give his life sacrificially for those he is called to love and serve.

A Countercultural Message

Paul reminded the young preacher Timothy that he was in a battle. Living out the faith in a hostile culture is a war against the flesh, war against the world system, war against an unseen but fierce enemy, Satan. So Timothy shouldn’t have seen difficulty as something unexpected. It’s what he signed up for as a follower of Christ. As a soldier he was always ready to engage in battle.

How do we apply this to the noise and confusion of daily life? By viewing each difficulty as one more skirmish in a long war. We need to keep in mind that we will take fire along the way, but we’re fighting on the winning side and equipped for battle by the Holy Spirit. We can’t avoid the war, but it’s a fight worth fighting and one we’re ultimately going to win.

Bottom Line

Christian men are called to the soldier’s life of hardship, sacrifice, and honor.