“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:1-4 (NKJV)
Be strong? As a Blackfoot First Nation born-again man, I learned that being a Christ follower meant that I’d become a part of God’s
army. It is an army that has never been defeated, and that has given me the courage to stand for our Lord!
As the above verse says, this happens “in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Now, serving as a pastor, we focus on teaching the Word of God to others. Our prayer is that the believers will be faithful, and will find strength in Christ.
I learned many years ago that being a Christian wasn’t going to be easy. My time in the military taught me much about hardship. However, I know that it is possible to be content in Christ, and that should be enough.
Soldiering requires enlistment and complete obedience. In the same way, our Heavenly Father requires this for every enlisted man and
woman. The Lord ought to be first in our lives, just as Jesus put His Father first. As a youth, Jesus said to his mother and to Joseph, “Why did you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).
Heavenly Father, I am just a weak person on my own, but You give strength. I pray that I will be like Jesus, going about my Father’s business, mindful of the Great Commission to share the Gospel, and the Greatest Commandment, to love God and others. Amen.
– Doug Iron Shirt
Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website.
Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org