Be a good Soldier for Jesus Christ.

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3

A Pastor is a warrior for Jesus Christ, Pastors are examples just like Jesus was when He had His earthly ministry. The Local New Testament Church is the only institution on earth that is set to bring glory to God because Jesus her founder. As Pastors, Jesus called us names like “under-shepherds, and overseers” and it is our responsibility to fill those shoes. We all need to be as Christ-like as much we can no matter what happens in the world or the churches. Any Pastor who does not love his flock above everything else on earth is not a good Pastor. There is no question that we were chosen above all other men to Pastor the church where we are at, and we need to honor our calling as though it is an honor to have been called. We must understand as “under-shepherds, and overseers” we are likened to a manager of a business, caring for the owner’s commodities, which happen to be the children of God. We cannot allow ourselves to be sidetracked by worldly affairs, Christ Jesus has appointed us to oversee His beloved flock. It is true that hard times will come, God promised that they would. And hard times will come the more as a Pastor is more a stronger soldier for the Lord and His church. Pastors, God has promised hard times in the last days, churches will shrink, money will shrink, and many more things will cause hardships for Pastors. The world will hate you, people in the world will despise you because of who you are, and you will be refused and rejected many times over, even by others that call themselves Christians. The Lord reminded us in verse 4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” In this world Pastors and all Christians must not engage themselves so much in worldly affairs that it affects their churches. As a Pastor, we are only good as we are as under-shepherds, and overseers, for it is the Lord’s work that was entrusted into our care. A good Pastor never lets worldly things to come between him and his church, ever! Not even the hardness’s we endure. As a Pastor I must work a secular job and I must fight the world every day, keeping in sight my true responsibility to Jesus and His church. Trusting that vengeance belongs to the Lord and not to me, because what I do in the world reflects on the Lord’s church. We must all endure hardships for the Lord, being a good example to those who serve with us in the churches. Our reward is not here, it is not on this earth, it is laid-up for us in heaven, awaiting us if we continue as the Lord has commanded. Paul gave us the very reason to work and strive so hard in verse 4 “…that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” Pleasing Him who elected us to be under-shepherds, and overseers, where in the end He will say Job well done, “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:23 As Pastors and Churches let us pray for one another, we are all in this fight for the Lord’s work together.