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What Does it Take to be a Good Soldier for Christ? - Part 2

"What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." - 2 Timothy 2:2

A Soldier Can be Replicated

In Paul's letter to Timothy, he encourages Timothy to teach others what he has 'heard from me (Paul).'  Many people who join the ranks of different armed forces do so because of some of the benefits or experiences that someone who went before them has shared.  People often talk about and share their experiences (Hello social media!).  As Christians, we should be talking more too.  We should be sharing the things that we have experienced God do in our lives, we should be sharing the truths found in God's Word, we should be doing our part to make sure that others have heard his great message.

Paul also said that these things would take place 'in the presence of many witnesses.'  Very rarely is a soldier sent out onto a mission alone.  Even if it is a two-man team there is someone there to have your back.  We should be surrounding ourselves with strong and faithful friends and teammates.  Do you have people around who will lift you up and get you back on track if you make a mistake?  Or who will secretly enjoy your failure?

I think I may have had something in common with Paul, we both want to avoid wasted effort.  Paul encouraged Timothy to teach these things to 'faithful mean who will be able to teach others.'  Paul didn't want Timothy to waste his time and skills teaching men who had no passion or ability to pass along these teachings.  As soldiers in the military notice skills in those below them, they begin to specialize in certain fields and train the men up in the areas they are skilled and passionate. 

Are we as Christians, doing a good job recognizing spiritual gifts in those in the church?  Are we helping people develop their gifts of teaching, singing, giving, and more?  As we identify these skills, we are to take what we know and can do and pass this along to the next generation.  It's amazing to look at the wisdom of God and realize that this process of spiritual reproduction from the earliest church is still just as effective today.

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