No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 2 Timothy 2:4
Every good soldier in any military unit is focused on pleasing his commander. If he gets caught up in things outside the military, he will often fail as a soldier.
While most soldiers will do their job and stay focused upon it, there are some that get entangled into affairs and things outside the military. During times that things like this occur, often the soldier will get himself into a lot of trouble and sometimes even be removed from service.
Paul calls Timothy a soldier of Christ. He tells him that every soldier does not get tangled up with civilian affairs, but works to please his commander.
Not every person has chosen to be a part of a military service in his nation. It is a difficult life to live and requires a great sacrifice. However, every person who has chosen to believe in and follow Jesus, has also chosen to be in the military service of God, in God’s army.
While in God’s army the civilian affairs are the affairs of this world. It is the stepping into sin and sinful activities or doing anything that is against God’s will for one’s life.
The enemy is the mindset and actions of this world that is against Him. Sadly, many believers choose to get tangled up with the things of this world and end up falling into sin against God. Some purposefully continue in sin and still claim to believe in God forgetting that their aim was to please God, their commanding officer, with their life.
Pleasing God is not done to earn salvation, but because of the salvation given. The good soldier will do whatever he can to please God with all of his life.
If you have chosen to follow Jesus, you are automatically enlisted into God’s army. It is now your responsibility to obey and please God, your commanding officer.
Do not allow yourself to get tangled up in the affairs of this world. All the affairs of this world will get you is disappointment and death. They will turn your heart away from God, not all at once, but little by little, until God has to cast you away as a deserter–one who has abandoned his faith.
Who are you trying to please today?
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will work to please God in every area of your life; that God will reveal to you the affairs of the world in your life; that you will be a great soldier in God’s army; and that you will not get tangled up with the temporary things of this world.
Leave a Reply