Having served in World War I, C. S. Lewis was no stranger to the stresses of military service. In a public speech he made during the Second World War, he described the hardships a soldier has to face: “All that we fear from all the kinds of [enemy] . . . is collected together in the life of the soldier on active service. Like sickness, it threatens pain and death. Like poverty, it threatens ill lodging, cold, heat, thirst and hunger. Like slavery, it threatens [hard work], humiliation, injustice and [poor leadership]. Like exile, it separates you from all you love.”

The apostle Paul used the image of a soldier suffering hardship to describe the trials a believer may experience in service to Christ. Paul—now at the end of his life—had lived faithfully to God, suffering for the gospel. He encourages Timothy to do the same: “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3).

Serving Christ requires grit. We may come across obstacles of poor health, troubled relationships or difficult circumstances. But as good soldiers we press on—with God’s strength—because we serve the King of kings and Lord of lords who sacrificed Himself for us!

Author

Dennis Fisher

Topics

Our Daily Bread