Becoming an infant soldier

Yesterday night I watched a program about child soldiers in Libera, and it really left me thinking very deeply. First of all, it's important to informed about this issue - it's just horrible to imagine that these kids had no real childhood, no love, no protection... When the kids in this program were interviewed and spoke about what they had done it was almost not possible to believe they had really done such things (I'll not go into detail about that now). 

The children being interviewed stayed in a camp where they were supposed to be rehabilitated. One of the social workers said something very interesting that led me down a completely different train of thought. He said: "Children are very good soldiers! They don't ask why, they don't fear risks - if you tell them to do something, they will do it! They won't think twice, they won't hesitate - they'll just go for it and do everything you tell them to do. That's why it's so effective to use children as soldiers." 

I think I have now understood a bit more why Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3 

We are to be soldiers in the army of God. We all have a place on the spiritual battlefield, but it cannot be compared with the battles we mean when we talk about war in this world: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12 

So, we are to be soldiers in the army of God - yet Jesus tells us to change and become like little children. How does that go together? It's goes very well together, in fact it's the best combination to live an authentic Christian life and to be effective in our walk with God! Remember? "Children don't ask why, they are not afraid, thinking about risks, they just DO it!" 

When Jesus tells us to do a certain thing, we need to learn to just do it, trusting the Lord 100% without discussion and asking why and what for. A true soldier of Christ with the heart of a child is relying on the God who is wise and good and who knows all things, and who has a purpose and reason for every command and instruction He is giving us. 

Don't let your thoughts and worries and concerns bring you to the point where you prefer to stay passive (out of fear or doubt) instead of going forward with and for God! Just do it! You can really trust your heavenly Father, He has considered all the consequences long before He asked you to do a certain thing. He is love! He really is good, and yes - we have a job to do! Earth is not just about waiting in a queue until we're in heaven. Earth really is a battlefield, but we know we're going to win in the end for sure. Make the decision today to become an infant soldier - a soldier of God with the heart of a child.

Take up your cross?

I often wondered what it really means - this scripture: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23 

It surely means something different for every follower of Jesus. When everything is perfect and easy, then it's also easy to say "Yes Lord, I will surely carry my cross to follow you". God wants me and my husband to go to England, which means I'm going to leave behind my home country, my family, my friends, my language, my favourite coffee, my favourite bread... and who knows what else? Our move will happen at some point over the next few months. We are following God's lead, His plan. It's awesome and wonderful - and painful at the same time, because my mother is very ill and the last thing I actually feel like doing is leaving her right now. 

I'm asking God during this time: "Why do you send us away right now, when my mum is so ill?" Or: "Why does my mum have to be so ill at all?" I don't know the answer to that, but whenever I think that, what comes to my mind is the above mentioned scripture. This is my cross, this is partly denying myself - denying things I love and that I am used to. 

Letting go so I will be able to follow the trace of God in this life of mine. It's hard. It costs a price. It's a cross. But I'm saying yes. Because Jesus said yes too. He carried the cross for me. Carrying the cross isn't glorious. But the outcome will certainly be.