Thoughts from 2 Timothy 2

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

Check out this three-fold picture of the Christian life Paul gives us in 2 Timothy 2:

1. Don't Get Distracted: Paul says that no soldier gets entangled by the concerns of everyday life. They stay focused. Let's keep the Main Thing the Main Thing and not get tripped up by the peripherals. What's the Main Thing, you say? The Gospel. The Love of Jesus.

2. Live In Holiness: Next, Paul writes that no athlete is going to be crowned unless they compete according to the rules. As a follower of Jesus, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the Gospel. This is sobering for me to think that everything I do, say, or think reflects on the Gospel. There's no such thing as cheap grace.

3. Give It All You Got!: The third picture Paul gives Timothy is of a hard-working farmer. He insists that it's the hard-working farmer who ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.  Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of Jesus. Give it everything that is in you!

I love those three pictures; of the soldier, athlete and farmer! All three principles are challenging and yet worth keeping in mind as we follow hard after Jesus. But that's not all. 

Paul begins this passage and the illustration of the soldier by instructing that we should share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Share in suffering. That's not the first time Paul has mentioned this or taught it. In Philippians he writes that it has been granted to us as a favor to suffer for Jesus. It is a gift. Can I embrace this gift? This sharing of the sufferings of Christ? Let this be our prayer today:

Jesus, teach me to keep my eyes focused on you and not to get distracted by things that don't matter.
Help me to live a life of holiness and purity. To be faithful and honest.
Teach me to work hard and to do everything like I was doing it for you (because I am!).
Teach me how to suffer with the grace of Christ. Help me not to be comfortable, but to follow hard after You no matter the cost. Amen.