Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 2 Timothy 2:3-4

Every believer has three enemies that relentlessly attack: the flesh, Satan and the world. We cannot escape, overpower or outsmart them. God warns us that the passions of the flesh wage war against our souls (1 Pet 2:11); Satan prowls around seeking to devour us (1 Pet 5:8); and the world hates us (John 17:14, 1 John 3:13). Although these enemies may intimidate us, they cannot defeat us when we follow God’s instructions.

As good soldiers of Christ Jesus, we can confidently stand firm and successfully defend the truth. Specifically, we can repel the world’s approaches, resist Satan’s attacks and reject the passions of the flesh when they arise. We have been graciously and mercifully provided three forms of divinely forged armour that gives us insurmountable confidence and guarantees us victory:

• The armour (weapons) of Righteousness (Rom 13:12)
• The armour of Light (2 Cor 6:7)
• The armour of God (Eph 6:10-19).

Successful military service brings glory to God. For example, it can encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ and help unbelievers see how our Lord is “the way, the truth and the life”. The opposite is also true; failure to defend the truth can lower the morale of others and may lead those around us to question God’s greatness, robbing ourselves and them of joy in our Lord.

As good soldiers, we are to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (Eph 6:10), putting on the whole armour, knowing He has promised:  “I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. (Rev 22:12)