If you grew up in the church, you may remember a kids' Sunday school song called "I'm in the Lord's Army." I used to sing this song with no concept of its spiritual depth. "I may never march in the infantry/Ride in the cavalry/Shoot the artillery/I may never zoom o'er the enemy/But I'm in the Lord's army." Every verse draws a distinction between the Lord's army and the armies of this world. There are no infantry, cavalry, artillery, or fighter jets. The Lord's army looks different.
In the time of Jesus, when an army advanced, they would leave a path of death and destruction in their wake. As they marched toward their objective - often in the name of their god(s) - they would litter the streets and villages they came across with carnage and chaos. Everyone knew the army had been there because of the devastation and loss they had experienced. Lives were changed forever.
In Luke 13, we read that Jesus traveled through towns and villages, teaching as He made His way to Jerusalem. He knew He was on what amounted to a death march, but He went anyway. His "army" of disciples was "advancing" on Jerusalem, day by day, during his final weeks of ministry, but they were doing something crazy and upside-down...just like everything else in God's kingdom: When His army advanced, they left in their wake not a path of death and destruction, but a path of peace and healing. As they marched toward Jerusalem - in the name of God - they would saturate the streets and villages they came across with renewal and wholeness. Everyone knew the "army" of Jesus had been there because of the restoration they had experienced. Lives were changed forever.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our battle is not against "flesh and blood." If it's made of flesh and blood, it's not our battle. Our battle is not against our neighbors. Our battle is against "the spiritual forces of evil..." (ESV). We are in the Lord's army, friend. If we want to do it Jesus' way, then let's leave a path of healing and peace in our wake.
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