Stephen spoke tonight about the fact that we are called to be soldiers in the Lord’s army. Just as it is very easy for us to only think about soldiers and war on Remembrance Sunday, so too we can relegate God to a Sunday, thinking about Him then but ignoring Him during the rest of the week. We need to be serving Him all the time, understanding that we are called to join with God’s people in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 2:3)
This is not an easy verse to ponder, for we much prefer a rose-coloured view of the Christian life where it’s all joy and no suffering. Christ wants us to persevere through hardship, pain and strife, however, certain that it is worth it. The old hymn, ‘Onward, Christian Soldiers’ reminds us of the need to be men and women of faith who take God seriously and are not prepared to stand still but will keep on moving forward.
Marching as to war
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Leads against the foe
Forward into battle
See His banners go,
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
loud your anthems raise!
Like a mighty army
moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
one in charity.
Onward, then, ye people,
join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
in the triumph song;
Glory, laud, and honor,
unto Christ the King;
This thro’ countless ages
men and angels sing.” (‘Onward, Christian Soldiers’, S. Baring-Gould)
