We Are Warriors
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.
2 T I M O T H Y 2 : 3 - 4 , C S B
Do you see yourself as a warrior?
Being a guy, my mind goes immediately to the images of warriors I’ve seen in movies throughout the years. Aragorn—the king incognito, able to fight off hordes of orcs single-handedly. Superman—strong, fast, smart and with a wide array of weapons all within his own person. Or, biblically, David and his mighty men were warriors. Take Benaiah for example. 2 Samuel 23 tells us how he had jumped in a pit and killed a lion. Another time, he went up against a massive Egyptian with only a club. He took the Egyptian’s own spear and killed him with it! I wouldn’t want to mess with Benaiah. But I’d pick him for my team any day!
As disciples of Christ, we are warriors. This is part of why I take my sons hiking. I want them to learn that there is reward in doing difficult things. We love the time together and enjoy God’s beautiful creation. At the same time, it can be tough. Sometimes we sleep in near freezing weather. We filter our water one liter at a time. The trail is rocky and the hills are steep. But the views are breathtaking and the accomplishment of conquering a mountain develops our character.
Likewise, this walk of faith can be challenging because it’s a battle.
Are you utilizing the weapons of the warrior disciple? These weapons don’t look like the weapons of the world. Are you taking your thoughts captive (2 Cor. 10:3-5)? Are you standing firm in the salvation, righteousness, truth, peace, and faith God provides? Are you utilizing prayer and the Word (Eph. 6:10-20) as God’s weapons? Have you considered that your obedience is a weapon? Paul tells us in Romans 6:13 that we are not to “offer any parts of (your body) as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.” Your obedience is a weapon in this battle! Witnessing, Sabbath rest, fasting, giving and service are other weapons for God.
All of it can only be accomplished through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Don’t try and fight on your own. Submit to God. Gear up. The reward of serving the Lord, battling side by side, and pushing back the darkness is totally worth it. Christ has won the Victory! “Flee from (evil) things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.” (1 Timothy 6:11-12, CSB)