Recently when a friend sent me a link to a missional
program called “Life on the Frontline,” I was struck by the word “frontline,” a military term for the heaviest place of battle, where soldiers are in the trenches and closest to the enemy.Paul says, “Endure suffering along with me. As a good soldier of Christ Jesus, put on all of God’s armor, for we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world” (2 Tim. 2:3-4; Eph. 6:12-13). Peter also uses a martial metaphor, “Since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also for the same purpose” (1 Pet. 4:1). In other words, God's warriors should never go to the frontline unarmed!
In the last days, Jesus is looking for those who have the “frontline faith” of happily conscripted armed servicemen and women, willing to take a stand for ‘unpopular’ truth, even if it means giving up their lives for the “Captain of their Faith” (Heb. 12:2). Will He find us on the “frontline” when He returns?
Greg,
ReplyDeleteGreat post, today! Timely!
I discovered a devotional book that actually speaks to the Christian in complete armor. It comes from the book by the same title ("The Christian In Complete Armour") by William Gurnall, written back in the 1600's by a seasoned veteran of 33 years of age(!), as he pastored a small parish in Great Britain. Readings from the book were transcribed by James S. Bell, Jr. of Moody Bible Institute. And the finsihed product wa heartily endorsed by Dr. Ed Murphy, Neil T. Anderson, and Mark Bubeck, all of whom have written extensively and authoritatively on the subject of spiritual warfare. I have been enriched and challenged as I consult its message on a daily basis as a companion to my own Bible studies.
Stan