2 Timothy 2:1-4 (NLT) Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.
This is one of my favorite scriptures & one that I’m going to take a few days to focus on. Of all the metaphors that Paul could have used to communicate the Christian walk he chooses to use this one first, that of a soldier. The word for the day is PERSPECTIVE. How you go into something is how you will walk it out. If you come into to Christianity as happy participant on a pleasure cruise you won’t weather the first storm that cruise ship hits. ENDURE HARDSHIP??? At first glance that’s the worst alter call I’ve ever heard. Who would sign on for this. But I as I think about it, Paul is saying you wont make it in this thing called Christianity if you can only drag yourself out of bed & live the life ONLY on sunny days. Paul does a “hard sell” on Timothy to make sure he has the right perspective in his faith walk. Your NOT on a pleasure cruise. Its NOT all about you. You’re not going to always have an easy go at it. You might get hurt, people will fire shoots at you and there WILL be times you suffer. BUT the fights worth fighting, the wars worth winning and the Lord is on our side and we will win. Keep perspective and be a good soldier & be ready for WHATEVER comes your way
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Thank you.