| We Are Soldiers of the Lord |
Today's Text:
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
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The Message:
No one would think of entering an army in time of war, hoping to have ease and self-indulgence and a real pleasant and profitable time. They know that hardships and privations are the liabilities; and as long as the war lasts, they will have coarse food and often short rations, long weary marches by day, enduring the heat of the burning sun, camping out at night in the open air, exposed to drenching rains and chilling frosts, venturing health and life itself as they stand as targets for the enemy.
The Christian life is compared to the life of a soldier, and there can be no bribes presented of ease and self-indulgence. The idea that Christian soldiers are to be excused from the conflicts, experiencing no trials, having all temporal comforts to enjoy, and even the luxuries of life, is a farce. The Christian conflict is a battle and a march, calling for endurance. Difficult work has to be done. It often proves fatal to the Christianity of those who, with false ideas of pleasantness and ease, enlist as soldiers in Christ's army and then experience trials. God does not present the reward to those whose whole life in this world has been one of self-indulgence and pleasure. It is time that men and women have some true idea of what is expected of a true soldier of the cross of Jesus.
Those who serve under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel are expected to do difficult work that will tax every power God has given them. They will have painful trials to endure for Christ's sake. They will have conflicts that rend the soul, but if they are faithful soldiers they will say with Paul, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." [2 Corinthians 4:17, 18.]
An army would be demoralized if it did not learn to obey the orders of the captain. Each soldier must act in concert. Union is strength; without union, efforts are meaningless. Whatever excellent qualities soldiers may possess, they cannot be safe, trustworthy soldiers if they claim a right to act independently of their comrades. This independent action cannot be maintained in the service of Christ. The soldiers of Jesus Christ must move in concert, else it were better that they do nothing. For if one speak one thing, and another present ideas and doctrines contrary to his fellow laborers, there is confusion, discord, and strife. Therefore the apostle charges that all who believe on Christ be of one mind, one faith, one judgment, each moving in concert, influencing one another beneficially, because they are both obedient to the precious truth of the Word of God, attached to one Saviour, the great Source of light and truth.
Spasmodic, disunited efforts of professed Christians are like a span of horses, both strong and active, but yet they do not pull together; one tries to start the load, the other settles back in the harness, and both do not pull at the same time. God would have His workers pull together, not one pulling in one direction and another in opposite direction, for all such efforts are worse than wasted.
Those who prefer to act alone are not good soldiers; they have some crookedness in their character that needs to be straightened. They may think themselves conscientious, but they do not the works of Christ. They cannot render efficient service. Their work will be of a character to draw apart when Christ's prayer was that His disciples might be one as He was one with the Father.-Letter 62, 1886.
*Note: I have added in the parts that were left out by the compilers for what ever reason, that the true sentiment of the author may be seen. These parts are underlined.
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Commentary:
My friend, we are to do the will of our Lord and Master in this battle that we are in. If we are to know the will of God we must surrender our hearts to Him, studying the word of God that we may know His will. There are many today that think that they are doing God service, but because they have strayed from the word of God they have been deceived into following an imposter. By the churches adoption of the trinity many have been led to worship the god of the enemy.
Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God is our captain and we are to follow Him. But the enemy of souls has infiltrated the church of God and has artfully supplanted the worship of the One true God with the worship of the trinity and as such the church is in the condition that God has foreseen. They are in the Laodicean condition. They think that they are following Christ, but they are not, for Christ is depicted as on the outside seeking to gain entrance to the hearts of His people.
Sadly, the church has been compromised and is being led by the spirit of Satan. Yet the church is not without true followers of Christ. This small group sound the alarm and point out the great deception that has been played upon the people, but these are derided, ridiculed, and eventually disfellowed from the church. They are seen as traitors to the church because they speak against it. But these faithful soldiers continue to sound the alarm. Though they are threatened with persecution they heed the call of the true Captain and give the straight testimony of the Faithful and True Witness of God.
The straight testimony is the message to the church that they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17) because they are worshiping the false god of the trinity. The church thinks it has the righteousness of Christ, but it does not. This call is to wake all those that will to their true condition before God. Those that heed the warning through zealous repentance will join in this work and be saved, but those that do not, grieve away the Spirit of Christ never to return. Their probation closed they join the ranks of the wicked when the persecution of the church comes at the outpouring of the Spirit of God in the three angels message.
My friend, now is the time to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15). And that truth is "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3).
God bless,
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Video of the Week
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| The God of Jesus - Nader Mansour |
Does Jesus have a God? How does that impact the Trinity? Is the God of Jesus different to the Trinity? Nader Mansour examines these questions and their practical relevance on our daily walk with Jesus.
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