You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.--2nd Timothy 2:1-7
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
I am really loving 2nd Timothy and am having a difficult time leaving the second chapter. Paul had such a father's heart for Timothy. He says so many of things to him that I want to say to you girls. Paul knows what is ahead for Timothy and wants him shored up in his God. Paul's race is almost done and he wants to exhort Timothy to endure and press forward one more time before he himself dies and goes to be with his Lord.
The first one we already looked at in another post. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Remember this one when you are having a bad day...remember it every day. Remember it before you get out of bed in the morning. Be strong in God's undeserved favor on your behalf. We are saved by grace, and we are to walk in grace. We have this treasure, Christ, in our earthen vessels. We are to trust completely in Him and His power to get us through. I don't have to be impressive...it is not up to me. It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. I can surrender and leave the results to Him.
Commit what you have learned to faithful men. Girls, be a good steward of what you have heard and learned...teach them to faithful women. Study the word and then don't keep it to yourself! Share it, disciple others and most importantly what you teach should be from the word of God...not the philosophies of men.
Next, Paul exhorts Timothy to endure hardship as a soldier of Jesus Christ. A good soldier endures and expects hardship and does not entangle himself in the affairs of this life but lives to please who enlisted him. So we are to live to please only God. That is a blessing from where I sit. There are so many people out there. I don't have to please any of them. I only have to please Him who enlisted me...Jesus Christ,who laid down His life for me. That keeps it simple.
Paul also uses an athletic illustration. He tells Timothy if you are going to run the race to win a prize you have to run it according to the rules. Paul was in prison awaiting trial before Nero...suffering as an evil doer. Paul was looking like a real loser from the world's standard but from the heavenly perspective he was a winner. He played according to the rules laid down in Scripture and his crown awaited him in heaven. He ran to please his Lord and so should we.
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. --Philippians 2:12-15
The next image we find is that of a patient farmer. The picture that comes to mind for me is that of a diligent and hardworking farmer who is patient and faithful during the planting, watering and the waiting.We also need to be patient. Each one of us is part of the body of Christ and fulfills a purpose that God planned out for us from the foundation of the world. If we abide in the vine and walk in those works, the fruit will come.
1st Corinthians 3:5-9 says this. "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building."
The last one we will look at for this post is to consider. It says to consider or think and the Lord will give you understanding. Consider....exercise the mind. Meditate on the word of God. Chew on it. Think on it and the Lord will give you understanding. That means literally He will mentally put it all together for you. Talk to the Lord as you read the Scripture...let Him put it together for you. The bible says that as a man thinks he is. Immerse yourself in the word. Let it fill your mind and saturate it. There is nothing you can do that is more profitable.
Love
Mom
