A good soldier

"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (II Timothy 2:3 NKJV). The Apostle Paul went through some very tough times in the ministry. So, he knew what it took to serve the Lord out of the depths of his heart. He did not choose to follow Christ, but Christ chose him. Paul followed and obeyed every word that the Lord gave to him, even in the darkest of prisons and through the coldest of nights. The Apostle Paul went many days without food or a place to find rest. He trusted in the Lord, and he knew by faith the Lord our God would supply all his needs. Paul was a man who was very familiar with suffering, yet we never hear of him turning from the Lord to go back to the world. He knew the trials he faced would bring out endurance, patience, and a greater hope in our Lord. Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the Lord, not to put fear in young Timothy's heart, but to encourage him in Jesus Christ and to let him know that there would be some hard times ahead. Paul told him to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and when hardship comes to endure it and follow after Jesus as a good soldier (II Timothy 2). We, as believers, face many hard times, and when one stands for Christ, there are more hard times to come. We are called, just as Paul and Timothy were, and it is through following Jesus Christ that one is made into a soldier.  When the hard times hit where it hurts, which usually begins at home with family, we are not to get entangled with the affairs of this life. Let the Lord do what He does best, and that is to bring light and life to a soul. "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of  this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier" (II Timothy 2:4 NKJV). God bless you all.