2 Timothy 2:4.
We are God's army. Christ is our Commander. He issues orders, and we obey. This is our mission: to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything [Jesus] has commanded [us]" (Matthew 28:19-20).
But we get distracted. The things of this world draw our attention away from our holy objective. We associate ourselves with the things of this world rather than with Christ. James was right to rebuke the believers when he said, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God" (James 4:4). When we turn our eyes to worldly things, we lose sight of our mission, and we become divinely useless. Of course, God can still use us even in our uselessness, but that is not His desire. This is God's command to His soldiers: "[Stand] firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58). We must serve God with everything that we are. But we don't have to do it alone: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).
Too often we lose sight of our objective. But we can't allow that to happen any longer. We must "[flee] the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22). As a father instructing a son, or a commander ordering a soldier, Paul says to Timothy, and to all believers, "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:1-2). The weapons of our warfare are spiritual weapons: prayer, the Word, Christian fellowship; and we are to be ready to take up arms at any moment—on the battlefield or off, in season or out—because the enemy doesn't play fair. We have been warned: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings" (1 Peter 5:8-9). But just as God delivered Daniel from the lions' den, He will shield us from the attacks of the devil. Just as He gave David strength to strike down the lion and the bear, He will give us strength to "take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Not all are called to fight on the ground though; some are called to stand watch, and we are to wholeheartedly take up our post, repeating Habakkuk's promise: "I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me" (Habakkuk 2:1). We listen for the Lord's command, and then we obey, passing it on to the commanding officers to pass on to their soldiers, and acting on the command ourselves.
Remember this order from Christ, our Savior and our Commander: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love" (1 Corinthians 16:13-14), because love is the greatest weapon we have against the enemy. Because God is love.
So as Paul instructed Timothy, "keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:5). Our mission is not impossible, but we have to stay focused. And when our mission has been accomplished, our King will welcome us into the kingdom, saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21).
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