2 Timothy 2:3-4, “Share in the suffering as a good soldier of Christ. No soldier gets engaged in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”

We don’t often think of ourselves as soldiers of Christ, but we are, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). One of the most admirable qualities of a soldier is his resilience against all forms of adversity—he remains calm, wise, decisive, and humble; and he shares in the suffering of his brothers in arms. In the wisdom of the soldier, he is not concerned with the pursuits of civilian life. Rather, he is concerned about serving his country to which he was called and doing what his commanding officer orders him to do. As a U.S. Army veteran, I know this.

It is the same with the Christian. Remain resilient against our inevitable suffering for the message of Christ in which we preach, sharing your suffering with your brothers and sisters in Christ, comforting one another (2 Corinthians 1:4-5). After all, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). Do not be concerned with the pursuits of the unbeliever, but serve and please our Creator, obeying His commands. How is this mission done? By making disciples “of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that” Jesus has commanded us (Matthew 28:19-20a).