Join With Me In Suffering
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ
Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses
entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join
with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a
soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his
commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not
receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The
hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect
on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
2 Timothy 2:1-7
The apostle Paul warned Timothy about the attraction to things
of this world. Paul told Timothy those things of the earth would cause him
defeat. He urged Timothy not to let anything slow him down or distract him from
the cause of his Lord and Master.
There are many attractive things in our world that are so easy
to get entangled with – hobbies, sports, computers.
These all start of as “refueling” exercises, but later they can take up so much
of our time that they interfere with the purpose for which God created us: to
share the good news of Christ, serve Him with our gifts, and bring glory to
Him.
Although we live in this world,
we must declare our allegiance to heaven.
Our Daily Bread –