Onward Christian Soldiers

26 Feb 2023 • Articles

Marching through Lent during March, Christians need to stand shoulder to shoulder and support one another in their calling, which is to establish God's kingdom in their own hearts and to call others to turn to God as well. Jesus Christ is our Captain, the cross is the banner we follow, and the Holy Spirit gives us our uniform, which is the armour of light. Christians wear the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth and the shoes of the Gospel of peace; our shield is faith and we carry the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of peace and love, and it will only be fully established when everyone in the world comes willingly and joyfully to be a citizen of that kingdom.

Jesus talked to Nicodemus about being born of water and the Spirit. Water can be gentle and warm or cool and refreshing. We need water to live - without water people suffer desperately from thirst - but water can also be a strong force carrying everything else away. The Holy Spirit, too, can be like a soothing breeze, but it can also be like a hurricane blowing through everything which opposes it. It takes courage to be reborn as a child of God, reborn through journeying faithfully onwards in obedience to God's Spirit, like a child progressing along the birth canal.

The self-discipline which Christians traditionally practise during Lent can seem quite hard, but it is only for six weeks, and self-denial builds up character as long as it does not lead to the pitfalls of self-righteousness or pride. The sparse times can be balanced with intervals of plenty and joy - Sundays are never days for fasting, even in Lent, and Mothering Sunday brings welcome refreshment - and Easter lies ahead with the greatest joy of all, the promise of life shared with our Lord Jesus Christ.

May your armour be kept shining and your path be smooth and clear,

Ann