Thou therefore hardness,
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth
himself with the affairs of this life:
that he may please him who hath
who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
And if a man also strive
for masteries, yet is he not crowned,
except he strive lawfully.
2Timothy 2:3-5
The greatest taskmaster of all time is Jesus Christ. Unlike many Churches and many people who attend a Church, they are looking for a sentimental form of Christianity, or they are in a Church that promises and teaches prosperity, and many other such doctrines that make a person feel as though they are doing the will of God. What is not taught in any depth at all is that Jesus Christ is the greatest taskmaster and if a person has truly converted to Jesus Christ he is led by this great taskmaster. Hear the words of Jesus: Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven....He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:32-33; 37-38). The words of Jesus are harsh, demanding, and very clear, if we are not putting the highest priority of our lives Jesus Christ we are not worthy to be called one of His bride.
A soldier in the day of Paul had to endure hardship and were treated a little more than a beast of burden. A soldier is under a taskmaster and is known as a good soldier for he obeys the taskmaster no matter how hard a situation may be. Our trials of this life, whether we caused it, or caused by others is a part of life and we need to grow stronger and have our resolutions so fixed upon Jesus Christ our leader that we follow Him no matter what. We cannot do this under our own strength, by our own mental gymnastics, no we follow our leader because He know the way and has the ability to correct or handle any situation. A soldier is faithful to the cause and we as Authentic Christians are to be faithful to the cause. And what is this cause? "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops" (Matthew 10:27). A good soldier makes sure that his uniform is clean, pressed with the ironed lines are straight and in the right place, his hair is cut, and his shoes shined. Why? Because this not is a command to do, but for himself/herself, it is a pride that is not prideful, it is pride in a person that knows that he/she is doing what is right. The orders from a superior may not always be understood, but he knows that he has been ordered.
Yes, the orders are hard for a person because he/she is still sinful, has sinful tendencies and misses the most important part of this hardness that is hardness to a person. God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit do demand certain things, and they seem hard when in fact they are more tender than what a person can conceive, and every now and then He gives us a chance to be that rugged one that He might show His tenderness. If person cannot follow what is taught plain and clear in Scripture, it is because there is something that that person does not want to give up. Oh, a person may intend to give up something, but intentions are that, intentions and not action. There is no possibility to deal with such a person with sympathy, there must be a deep down, to the root, until there is antagonism and resentment against the message. People want blessing from God, but they will not stand the thing that goes straight to the quick.
Is God having His way with you? If so, then your message as His servant is merciless insistence on the one line, cut down to the very root, of not, then there will be no healing. We must drive home the message until there is no possibility for refuge from its application. Yes, this is the harshness, the hardness of being an Authentic Christian: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him" (Luke 11:13). It takes the power of the Holy Spirit that resides in all of God's children to be able to do what He commands. God is Loving for He has provided for you Himself to lead and guide you by the Holy Spririt.
How can you do this? There must be a sense of need before your message is of use. If you do not feel the need of a Savior, the need to follow the Savior our great Taskmaster, who is loving, then you will be of no use. Many Christians point to happiness and their morality, well, if this is all that was needed then why did Jesus come to earth, die for sins, if you could do what is needed from your own strength. This peace and happiness is on the wrong line, the wrong level, Jesus came to send a sword through every peace that is not based on a personal relationship to Him: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).
Stop looking for peace and happiness by what you do, or by the culture of this world. Do you want peace? Well follow the commands of our greatest and loving Taskmaster and peace that is not understandable will come, and you as with a good soldier will have a pride within yourself that you are not only a good soldier but a good person. As a good servant and soldier for God you will manifest God in all you do and by this others may come to know this peace and furthermore will convert to Jesus Christ and be saved by Him.
Let them praise His name in the dance:
let them sin praises unto him with
and the harp. For the LORD taketh
pleasure in His people: He will
beautify the meek with salvation.
Proverbs 149:3-4
Put on your marching shoes
Richard L. Crumb
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