Onward Christian Soldier

And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:27

Entering boot camp for basic military training used to mean being stripped of all your identity. Everything was taken from you—including your hair!—and you were given back only what you would need to be a good soldier. You were even told what to think. “When I want your opinion,” the drill sergeant would bark, “I’ll give it to you!”

Not to compare the Christian life with the military . . . but wait—even Paul drew that comparison (2 Timothy 2:3). There is discipline, training, and especially sacrifice in both the military and the Christian life. When Jesus was recruiting and training His own kingdom soldiers, He told them they would only need one thing in order to follow Him: a cross.

He didn’t say to bring your checkbook, your 401(k) retirement portfolio, your dreams and aspirations, or your hobbies. He just said to take up your cross and follow Him. The point of that drastic charge was simple: following Jesus means giving up everything in order to receive from Him so much more in due time and in His way.

The Christian soldier carries only one possession into battle: the cross of self-surrender to Jesus.