Commanding Officer

2 Timothy 2:4 “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the Commanding Officer.” ~CSB

While in the Army, I took part in training and completing all tasks required in the famous ‘Air Assault’ course. This was a huge step for me because one of the requirements at the end of the training was for us to repel over 90 feet from a helicopter in mid flight. No wall to walk down or kick off from, just a straight drop from the helicopter to the ground.

Now the punch-line here is that I was afraid of heights. But the instructors and leaders of the course were Drill Sergeants.  The Drill Sergeants are soldiers who are highly respected and well trained. They were the motivation that overcame my fear. They laid out our paths and rules of instruction. And no matter how difficult the task ahead, they motivated us to move forward regardless of the struggle. Hearing their voices through smoke, darkness and deafening noise, we were able to ignore everything around us that was trying to make us fail and we drove on. These men and women commanded us and those of us who listened, succeeded. 

These soldiers saw something in me at that time. God created that 'something' in all of us. This ‘something’ will help us on our journey as servants here on earth. We are required to follow the orders of our callings and not, “...get entangled in the concerns…” of this world.  Just like I did with the Drill Sergeants, we must listen for the voice of God as he guides us through the smoke, darkness and deafening noise of the enemy. 

Our Commanding Officer has assigned us to a higher calling. We must stay focused on our spiritual desire to be obedient and live righteously. Continue to do what is right despite how we look in ‘man’s eyes’. Allow ourselves to be in position, in a place, where we may fear or feel uncomfortable, so that God can perform the miracle He predestined to do through us for others.

Just as a soldier, “...seeks to please his Commanding Officer…”, we should seek to please God in everything we do. Living, breathing and in our course of action, serving in the name of Christ Jesus. May God always comfort, heal and guide you as you journey in Jesus’ name.

Amen

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