Christ Is Our Commander-in-Chief

 Trials and tribulations, suffering and pain, is all part of the course of a mighty person of God. Timothy is encouraged to be disciplined when facing such difficulties in the same way that a good soldier is obedient to his military commander. Because Christ Is Our Commander-in-Chief, we are encouraged to be obedient to our calling and are expected to face hardships with the same discipline as that of a military person, we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against spiritual principalities and powers in heavenly places. The badge of a disciplined soldier and faithful steward is suffering. Christ Himself learned obedience through His suffering. Paul was an example of a man that endured suffering for the sake of the gospel.
 We do not have to go on long missionary journeys, spend time in prison, or pastor a church to enroll in the army of believers that endure suffering in order to become a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ. But our life will be filled with suffering of some kind, if we are living for the Lord, as Jesus Himself promised.
 Let us learn obedience through suffering, and let us endure hardship with patient endurance in the place where the Lord has placed us so that we can join the army of Christ as a good and faithful soldiers and servants to our life's end. Suffering is often the badge of honor of a faithful man or woman of God.
Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Our United Prayer:
Loving Father, thank You for the example and teaching of Paul. We long to be  people that You want us to be, in the place where You have put us. May our love for the Lord Jesus be such that we rejoice, like the apostle Paul, to endure suffering for the sake of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in Whose name we Pray, AMEN.