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Happiness in Serving Our Captain, December 3
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou
art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many
witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12
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In earnest, determined exercise as faithful soldiers, obeying the orders
of the Captain of our salvation, there is genuine enjoyment such as can be
obtained in no other employment. The peace of Christ will be in the heart
of the faithful soldier. There is rest for the soul in wearing Christ’s yoke, in
lifting Christ’s burdens. It seems a contradiction to say that there is no rest
for the soul except that which is found in continuous and devoted service.
But this is true. Happiness comes in willing, obedient service, where all
the powers of our being are moving in happy, healthy, harmonious action
in obeying our Captain’s orders. The more responsible the task assigned to
Christ’s soldiers, the more the soul exults in the Saviour’s love and approval.
The soul realizes a freedom in the performance of the weightiest and most
taxing duties.
But this doing the duty of a soldier means work. It is not always just such
work as we would choose. Outward inconveniences, difficulties, and trials
have to be borne by the soldiers of Jesus. There is a constant warfare to be
maintained against the evils and inclinations of our own natural hearts. We
must not pick and choose the work most agreeable to us; for we are Christ’s
soldiers, under His discipline, and we are not to study our own pleasure. We
must fight the battles of the Lord manfully. We have enemies to conquer that
would gain the control of all our powers.
Self-will in us must die; Christ’s will alone must be obeyed. The soldier in
Christ’s army must learn to endure hardness, deny self, take up the cross, and
follow where his Captain leads the way. There are many things to do which
are trying to human nature, and painful to flesh and blood. This work of self-
subduing requires determined, continuous effort. In fighting the good fight of
faith, obtaining precious victories, we are laying hold of eternal life.—
The
Youth’s Instructor, December 22, 1886
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