There is a saying, “Practice makes perfect.” I fear that some believe that this only requires going to church Sunday morning, eating some cracker and drinking some grape juice. A better saying is, “Perfect practice makes perfect.” The daily walk of the Christian should be intermingled with practice—perfect practice—striving to be godly, “24/7/365”. Only then can the soldier be loyal and effective wielding the Sword of God.
Points to Ponder:
- Are you a soldier of Christ?
- How often do you train as a soldier?
- How important is it to recruit new soldiers?
Paul gives some basic and practical admonitions that pertain to living a life in Christ. We will look at them with being a soldier of Christ in mind. When carried out, this “Basic Training For Soldiers of Christ” will assure that we find in Christ everything we need for this life and the one to come.
First, a good soldier in Christ seeks those things that are above and not worldly things (Col 3:1-4). They transform their lives (Rom 12:2) and live according to the Spirit (Rom 8:5-6). They direct their minds to things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, of good report, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8). Most of all directing their minds to God’s word to be approved as a soldier (2 Tim 2:15).
Second, a soldier must take care of his body (Col 3:5-9). As to the sensual sins, a good soldier must put his body to death. That means giving up sexual sin, lust, vile passions, and evil desires including the want for the things that belong to others.
The motivation for putting these things away forever is to avoid the coming wrath of God (Col 2:6-7)! It’s one thing to do these things when we “lived in them” but in Christ we have “died to them”.
As a soldier in Christ, we are also to put off the social sins such as anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, slander, filthy language, and lying. We must complete in PRACTICE what we started in PRINCIPLE for when we were baptized we put off the old person with his deeds (Col 2:11-12, 3:9). In practice, this does not occur overnight but the soldier in Christ should strive to reach the goal. What is that goal?
The soldier of Christ as such should strive to be Christ-like and put on his attributes (Col 3:12-14, ESV): Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Then we must let the peace of God rule in our hearts because we are part of the one body (the church) and we must strive for unity in it (Col 3:15). This includes letting the word of Christ dwell in us richly while teaching and admonishing others in wisdom (Col 3:16). Whatever we do, in word or deed, we are to do in the name of the Lord (Col 3:17)!
Certainly, the world (and many churches) would be a much better place if all who profess Jesus to be Lord so adorned themselves with the Christian uniform. But what other motives might there be to do so? Four are given in this passage:
- We are “God’s elect” (His chosen ones) – Co 3:12
- We are “holy” (set apart for a sacred purpose) – Co 3:12
- We are “beloved by God”- Co 3:12
- We have been “forgiven by Christ”- Co 3:13
All of these reasons are sufficient to put on “The Christian’s uniform.” As a soldier in the Lord’s army, are you wearing the proper uniform?
