The Soldier, the Athlete and the Farmer

Have you accepted the call to live with Jesus Christ as your savior? You may have wondered “how do I continue to keep in step with God’s calling over my life for the sake of others in a world full of God's divine truth?” As I read in 2 Timothy 2, Paul wrote to encourage Timothy, and you and I as believers in Christ, to maintain in faith and know his word and to live by it. No matter how much hardship we endure, as disciples who answered the calling to live righteously and lead others to salvation there are standards God has provided us to live by in order to be in constant relationship with Him now and for eternity. That way our adversary, who is the devil, does not bound us to wickedness and eternal damnation.  

We are reminded in His word to think of ourselves as good soldiers, well-built athletes, and hard-working farmers for the Lord. According to dictonary.com, a soldier is a fighter, and a serviceman or service woman in the army. An athlete is a person proficient in sports or other physical activities. And lastly a farmer is a person who manages or owns a farm. You and I are to fight like soldiers on the battlefield for the Gospel by not involving ourselves in ungodly “civilian affairs”.  You and I are to train like athletes and when we compete, compete according to the rules so we are not disqualified. And you and I are to tend to our farm or land to receive a harvest from the Lord.

As we surrender to Jesus, God also equips us with the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit comes certain honorable attitudes as we serve Christ wholeheartedly. These Godly traits include being gentle, kind, patient, loving, faithful, truthful, sincere, and caring to all the people we interact with while avoiding unwise controversies, unbiblical practices, ungodly beliefs, and anything immoral as the world does. As you continue to maintain the faith by knowing His word to live by it, where are some areas in your life God is calling you to stand more firm in?