- Aug 14, 2019
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Last night, I watched a bit of a documentary about Australia's Commando force. They went in detail through the selection and training. 150 of the fittest and best soldiers apply annually. Less than a quarter make it through the selection process. These men endure, voluntarily, a regime that could easily be called torture. They must be able to think clearly, make decisions and take action even when exhausted. Then they are sent into battle, knowing that they have endured the near impossible and have come through.
God seeks spiritual "Commandos" also. The military looks for certain qualities in the potential Commando. Some of these apply to God's selection criteria also. The first sentence is what the military requires.
The wonderful thing about God's selection process is that anyone can apply. The military seeks the very best, proves what they can do and then trains those who qualify. God only asks one question. Are you willing? To be born again costs nothing. To be a disciple costs everything. If we are willing, God will do the rest. It may take decades. For me, rebellious, stubborn, proud and independent, it took the Lord 40 years to set me free. And that was when the next step of training began! Decades ago I put on a set of metaphorical "L" plates. I've not yet taken them off. I'm still a learner.
The Commando selection process strips away all the pretence, wishful thinking, delusion and false confidence in the applicant. The real person is exposed. God strips away all self-confidence, self-will, pride, rebellion, independence and stubbornness in the Christian - if he or she will stay the course. That permits the Lord Jesus to be revealed in the Christian, because He is the Life of those who are born again.
"Suffer hardship with me, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him." (2 Timothy 2: 3 & 4)
God seeks spiritual "Commandos" also. The military looks for certain qualities in the potential Commando. Some of these apply to God's selection criteria also. The first sentence is what the military requires.
- The applicant must be trainable. God looks for teachable hearts
- The applicant must be willing to endure hardship. Likewise God's elite
- The applicant must be willing to take orders. God highly regards the obedient heart
- The applicant must be able to work with a team. The Church is a body. No one is better than anyone else.
The wonderful thing about God's selection process is that anyone can apply. The military seeks the very best, proves what they can do and then trains those who qualify. God only asks one question. Are you willing? To be born again costs nothing. To be a disciple costs everything. If we are willing, God will do the rest. It may take decades. For me, rebellious, stubborn, proud and independent, it took the Lord 40 years to set me free. And that was when the next step of training began! Decades ago I put on a set of metaphorical "L" plates. I've not yet taken them off. I'm still a learner.
The Commando selection process strips away all the pretence, wishful thinking, delusion and false confidence in the applicant. The real person is exposed. God strips away all self-confidence, self-will, pride, rebellion, independence and stubbornness in the Christian - if he or she will stay the course. That permits the Lord Jesus to be revealed in the Christian, because He is the Life of those who are born again.
"Suffer hardship with me, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him." (2 Timothy 2: 3 & 4)
