2 Timothy 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Those who serve Jesus well and bear much fruit often have a hard life; it is part of the price that God asks those who follow and serve Him to pay.

2 Corinthians 11:24-26 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;

Several years ago a young man I knew joined the Navy and said that he had his sights set on becoming a Navy Seal. I had been on a hunting/camping trip with him and I thought, “I don’t think he has what it will take to become a Seal,” he is a wimp.

In order to be given the opportunities, the power, and the authority that God gives to those who are His soldiers we must be completely committed to following Jesus. Many get right up to the “fully devoted” part and back off because they are afraid of the cost.

Wimps have a lot of fears; soldiers for Jesus have none. Wimps complain about problems, strong followers of Jesus grumble about nothing. Wimps bad mouth and criticize champions for Jesus because they live life on the edge.

Servants of Jesus have all the fun! They get thrown into fiery furnaces, they get thrown into lion’s dens, they kill giants and bears and lions, and sometimes they die, but Jesus welcomes them to sit at His right hand. When Jesus comes and sets up His kingdom on earth wimps will live in Fargo, North Dakota.