Think Over These Things

2 Timothy 2:7 “Think about what I am saying, because the Lord will give you the ability to understand everything” (NCV).  

Paul gave four illustrations: teacher, soldier, athlete and farmer. A teacher is upheld by discipleship. A soldier is upheld by the thought of final victory. An athlete is upheld by the vision of the crown. A hard working farmer is upheld by the hope of the harvest. Each submits to the discipline and the toil or work for the sake of the glory which shall be. It is so with the Christian. The Christian struggle is not without a goal; it is always going somewhere. The Christian can be certain that after the effort of the Christian life, there comes the joy of heaven; and the greater the struggle, the greater the joy (Part note from Barclay’s Commentaries).

Why is it important to be a strong Christian in all four of these illustrations? Paul gives reason from 2 Timothy 2:15 from Barclay’s translation: “Put out every effort to present to God as one who has stood the test, as a workman who has no need to be ashamed, as one who rightly handles the word of truth.”

What does Paul meant “as one who has stood the test?” There would always be “false teacher” who would try to convert the Christian to “another gospel” rather than the true gospel of Jesus Christ. False teacher would try to use so many words as to confuse them into their purpose of their teachings. Their goal is to draw them away from God and His Word (2Tim.2:15-18). To lose being a strong soldier is to get involved with “worldly needs.” To lose being a strong athlete is to forget the discipline and let it go. To lose being a hard-working farmer is to give up waiting for the harvest and go somewhere else, “looking for gold.” In another word, the Christian would “fail the test.”

God will give you the ability to understand where you are standing. The test would be how strong you are able to stand against things that tried to “pull you down.” Ephesians 6:10-18 gives a good illustration on how to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might” and end with “Praying always.”

Song: Stand Up for Jesus

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the cross,

Lift high His royal banner, It must not suffer loss;

From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,

Till every foe is vanquished And Christ is Lord indeed.

(Lyrcs: George Duffield, Sing His Praise)

May the Lord bless you as you stand up for Jesus!

Dorothy