SOLDIER!

Yep, that’s right.  Soldier.  I’ve never served in the military but I’m a solider nonetheless.  I’m a soldier in the army of God.

I am not a civilian or a bystander; I am not called to sit on the sidelines.  I am called to fight.  I am called to lead.  I am called to build.  I have been entrusted and equipped to be on the front lines in the service of my commanding officer…the King of kings and Lord of lords…Christ Jesus the Lord.

I am a soldier.  That’s my word for 2016.

In case you’re wondering, I decided that this year, I would choose one word to be my focus for year and guide me through it.  After much thought and prayer, the word that came to me was SOLDIER.

Why soldier?  Because I believe that soldiers are what Jesus came to this earth for.  The more I read the gospel accounts, the more it is clear to me that Jesus came not only to touch people’s lives and bring them salvation; He came to build and raise up an army.

He didn’t just come to catch fish; He came to make fishermen.

He didn’t just come to heal the sick; He came to make doctors.

He didn’t just come to fight against evil and darkness; He came to make soldiers of Truth and Light.

For too many of us, we view ourselves as nothing more than civilians.  What’s the difference?

Both soldiers and civilians have the best interest of the country at heart.  They both care about their country and pray for their country and want to see their country victorious in the end.  The difference however is that civilians sit at home on their couches watching the war on TV while soldiers are out in the trenches fighting on their behalf!

Civilians watch; soldiers FIGHT!  

Which are you?  In God’s Kingdom, are you a soldier or a civilian?  A fighter or a watcher-of-fights?  Are you on the front lines?  Or are you watching from the couch?

The great CS Lewis summarized perfectly what it means to be a soldier for God when he wrote the following (this might be my new all-time favorite writing ever!):

I am a soldier in the army of my God… I will not get out, sell out, be talked out or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there. I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up. I am a soldier.

No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards or candy, or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win. My God has and will continue to supply all of my need. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ.

The devil cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me, and hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my Commander calls me from His battlefield, He will promote me to captain and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in the army, and I’m marching claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around.

I am a soldier, marching heaven-bound.  Here I stand!  Will you stand with me?