Semper Fi

That God calls us to be men of faith is not in question. But even more, God calls us to be faithful men.

One profession that epitomizes faithfulness is the military. Soldiers defend their nations and their nation’s interests selflessly to the point of death. 

That’s the level of faithfulness God calls believers to. In 2 Timothy 2:3-4, Paul uses the example of a soldier to encourage believers unto faithfulness. 

Characteristics of a Soldier of Christ

Like a soldier, a believer is called to:

Endure hardship

The military is not for the fainthearted. Soldiers undergo grueling training. And once deployed, they have to grapple with the harsh unforgiving conditions of the battlefield. 

The word endurance best summarizes a soldier’s life. 

Likewise, Paul exhorts believers to endure hardship as good soldiers of Christ. 

The Christian life is a series of battles. 

In addition to waging war against the flesh, believers contend with normal pains and suffering. From diseases, death, disagreement, disappointment, you name it, wars of various intensities characterize our lives every waking moment. 

Therefore, to survive a day in salvation, the soldier of Christ must be willing and ready to endure hardship. 

Please the Commander

Secondly, believers should focus on pleasing Jesus, our commanding officer.

Soldiers focus on being in good books with their commanders so much that they don’t entangle themselves in enticing yet derailing civilian affairs. 

Soldiers of Christ should also not entangle themselves in worldly affairs i.e. anything (good or bad) that can derail one from serving God’s purpose fully. 

This is a call for believers to consecrate i.e. set themselves apart for the Master’s use (2 Timothy 2:20-21). To throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles… (Hebrews 12:1-2).  

As you forfeit sin and other outright negative things, beware of seemingly good things like family, career, ministry, etc. that can hinder you from pleasing God and serving your purpose. 

That was Jesus’ point when He asked us to hate family, a clearly good thing (Luke 14:26/ Matthew 10:37-38). 

This does not imply that you hate your family. Not at all. Instead, you are to love God intensely more than family or anything else so that it looks like hate in comparison to the love you have for God.

Always Faithful

I am a soldier in the army of the Lord. So are you. 

What kind of soldier are you though?

If you endure hardship with a good attitude and joyfully live to please God, you will be a faithful soldier of Christ.   

The motto of the US Marine Corps is the Latin word Semper Fi (Semper Fidelis in full), translated as always faithful. 

Believers can borrow the motto and use it as a rallying call to motivate ourselves to be always faithful in all we do every time.

Semper Fi, saint.

Yahweh who calls to be faithful is faithful. So, the call to be faithful is a call to yield fully to the faithful God so He works His faithfulness in you. 

Full armor

In conclusion, soldiers take their armor seriously as it spells the difference between life and death. 

The soldier of Christ must also pay keen attention to the armor. Paul, in Ephesians 6:10-18, lists various weapons at the believer’s disposal. 

Do you want to be a faithful soldier of Christ who wins battles that come your way? 

Put on the full armor of God.