Daily Devotional – ‘In His Footstep’
By Kingdom Support Initiatives (KSi)
November 19th 2022

A Soldier of Christ II

Take with me your share of hardship [passing through the difficulties which you are called to endure], like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3

Bible Reading: Hebrew 12:6-11

A while ago, I met a serving soldier at the airport. He was not wearing a uniform so I did not even know he was a soldier. We talked together while waiting for our flights to depart. One of the things he talked about was the level of discipline that goes with the profession. He said being a soldier is about discipline and patriotism. First, the intellectual and physical rigour it takes to be a soldier is beyond what words can describe. During training, soldiers are subjected to different experiences. The training itself has made many quit because it can be stressful and exhausting. He noted that maybe things have changed especially with more reliance on technology in the military, but the need for discipline has not changed. As he vaguely spoke about some of the missions, he has been part of, I cannot but remember Apostle Paul’s instruction to Timothy, to endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Being a soldier of Christ Jesus involves self-denial, at times it involves making choices that seem illogical to human thinking but appropriate to God. For instance, how could Daniel and his three Hebrew friends decide to disobey the king in order to obey God even if it meant they were going to die? A disciple without discipline is like a winery without a wine press. As Christians, we have to learn and live a life of discipline in every aspect of our life because a soldier of Christ Jesus endures hardship and discipline because God disciplines those He loves.

Daily Confession: Lord help me to embrace discipline as a soldier of Christ Jesus, amen.

Intercessory prayer: I pray for children of God across the world for the grace to endure hardship for Jesus Christ.

Hymn: Soldiers of Christ arise,

And put your armor on,

Strong in the strength which God supplies,

Through His eternal Son;

Strong in the Lord of Hosts,

And in His mighty pow’r,

Who in the strength of Jesus trusts

Is more than conqueror.