INTRODUCTION

Dedicated soldiers are a dying breed, especially amongst Christians. Few people endure when the going gets tough or obstacles surface. The average Christian believes that God’s will involves no hurdles. In the secular world, drill sergeants, employers, and teachers spend a great deal of time and effort trying to instill discipline into those who grew up lacking character with little desire to succeed. This lack of character affects us all. Good soldiers endure hardness. They do not quit in the service of the Lord because of trials and tribulations. Neither do they allow themselves to be entangled in the affairs of this life. Their main desire is to please the very one who chose them to be a soldier in the first place.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Read about David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23:8-12 [8] These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. [9] And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: [10] He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil. [11] And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. [12] But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
  See All...). They did not quit during hard battles. God does not want us to quit serving Him when we have troubles (1 Kings 2:2-3 [2] I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; [3] And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
  See All...; 1 Corinthians 16:13Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
  See All...; 2 Thessalonians 2:15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): What might be some of the difficulties faced by a soldier in the armed forces? What would a drill sergeant do to prepare a soldier to endure these difficulties? What should we do to be better soldiers?
• How does a soldier who quits lose the confidence of his fellow soldiers? How could you lose the confidence of brothers and sister in Christ when you quit on the Lord?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank the Lord for calling you to be a soldier.
• Ask the Lord to help you endure hardness.

HYMN

Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

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