God’s Soldier

Image generated via AI.

I was waiting for my movie to start. As you know, they show trailers of upcoming movies. One such trailer was on the big screen, and one line in particular stood out to me. They were showing off the fighting capabilities of robotic soldiers. The salesman was saying such things as, “If they get killed, I simply build another one in its place.” Then he said the line that got my attention. He said, “And they are Biblically strong.”

Wait. What? What in the world did he mean by that? Was he somehow referring to the Nephilim?

The Nephilim, who were “heroes of old, men of renown” of a giant size and, apparently, enhanced physical abilities (Genesis 6:4) (Source: gotquestions.org)

Regardless of what he was referring to, the phrase got me thinking. If I’m a soldier for God, am I “Biblically strong?” What would someone who is look like?

  1. They should know the word of God very well.
  2. They should be part of a corporate community that motivates them every week.
  3. They should have good and clear communication with their commanding officer.
  4. They should study and know the weaknesses of the enemy. His tactics.
  5. They should have no fear when it comes to encountering the enemy.
  6. They should be trying to recruit and encourage others to join the fight.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit.” – Hebrews 4:12

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” – Romans 8:37

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.”–
2 Corinthians 10:4

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” –
2 Timothy 1:7

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.” –
Hebrews 10:24-25

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” – Romans 16:20

Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]  1 Tim. 6:12 (Amp)

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Who Is It For?

After watching a good movie, or at least one that is well-written, I want to go to my computer and write. Either one inspires me. That happened today after watching “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”

“Based on the beloved book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever centers on the Herdmans — absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. But this Christmas, they’re taking over their local church Pageant — and they just might unwittingly teach a shocked community the true meaning of Christmas.”

If you haven’t seen it yet, then I highly recommend it. There is one line in the movie that goes something like this. “The Herdmans are the very people Jesus came for.” As the people in the church judged and despised them, I was sitting there thinking about the people Jesus said he came for.

Later Jesus and his disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers. The religion scholars and Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company and lit into his disciples: “What kind of example is this, acting cozy with the misfits?”

Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.” Mark 2:15-17 (MSG)

Jesus also said about himself, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, Luke 4:18 (NLT)

I would word it like this: Jesus came for the oppressed, for the brokenhearted, for the disappointed, for the sick, for the sinners, for those who are realizing their way doesn’t work. For those despised and rejected. And for the unlovable. The Herdmans, me, and for you.

We all need Jesus. We all need saving, and that is why God sent us a Savior. He didn’t send us an accountant, an educator, or anyone else but his only Son. God sent us love in the form of a human to show us all a better way. If you have accepted Jesus, then you need to show the world “Love,” God’s Love! Not only at Christmas but every day of the year. Be a walking Christmas pageant. Let your life share the reason for Christmas.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Be the Movie

A month ago I was the guest speaker at a writer’s group meeting.  It was an honor, but this speaking engagement was different.  You see with Covid-19 still a great risk, the group currently meets on-line.  I had never done that before.

I was using my phone to attend the meeting, and the way it was set up, whoever was speaking is the person I viewed.  The president of this group introduced me, so she was the last person I saw.

About 20 minutes into my talk, she gets up and goes elsewhere, leaving me with no one to look at while I was speaking.  Normally, a speaker will scan the attendees, making eye contact, and looking for positive feedback at what is being said.

A few minutes later, she came back with a bowl of what looked like popcorn, and a drink.  I thought, wow! now I know what it feels like to be a movie.

The truth is this; if you are open and outspoken about your faith, your relationship with God, then people are watching you.  They listen to what you say, about current issues, our government leaders, and others around us.  They watch how we respond to troubling times.

Would the people watching you give a positive review on “Rotten Tomatoes”?  What if we had “Yelp” for humans?  Would you, would I, receive a thumbs up, or down?  Would people want to visit us after reading an accurate review on one of these platforms?  Probably not, if it was negative.

“So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.”
John 13:34-35 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Jesus knew people will watch us, for they watched him.  He was ever aware that he could only display the qualities of his father, God.  Those would be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23)

So be aware of this no matter where you are, whether at work, out and about, or at home.  You want your life to be a movie people want to see over and over again.

Copyright © 2020 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.