Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. 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.
Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. And as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who enlisted you in his army. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.
Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. 2 Timothy 2:1-10
This weekend was hard for me. I am still trying to recover from it. I started off okay but as the weekend wore on I fell into despair and depression. Sometimes it is so hard for me to see beyond the horizon. I just want to go home and be with the Lord. It seems that everything I do for the Lord ends in miserable failure.
I’ll try not to be so despairing today while I write. Let’s start with the notes and see where it takes us.
Note on verse 1
How can someone be strong with special favor? That “special favor” refers to grace, God’s undeserved favor on our behalf. Just as we are saved by God’s special favor (Ephesians 2:8, 9), we should live by it (Colossians 2:6). This means trusting completely in Christ and his power, and not trying to live for Christ in our strength alone. Receive and utilize Christ’s power. He will give you the strength to do his work.
What do you do when you get to the last within yourself? For me, I realize just how much I was living by my own strength over these past few years. But I was also relying on God. I know this because I would never have survived until today if I hadn’t been. Now, there is nothing left within me. My husband has labeled me as rebellious to both God and to him. He has been so thoroughly discouraging to me in my walk with God because he continually maintains that I have never been obedient and submissive to him and that I am completely unyielding to God right now. I agree that I am now fully rebellious to my husband, but I simply don’t know about being rebellious to God. There is a war going on within me about what is right by God. Sometimes I wonder if I’m so off track that I can no longer discern God’s will in my life. The blessing of grace for me is that I know that no matter how far off of the path I might wander, Jesus will find me and lead me back. Today, I just don’t know if I’m on the path or wandering. God knows exactly where I am and I trust that He will never loose sight of me.
Note on verses 3-7
As Timothy preached and taught, he would face suffering, but he should be able to endure. Paul used a comparison with soldiers, athletes, and farmers who must discipline themselves and be willing to sacrifice to achieve the results they want. Like soldiers, we have to give up worldly security and endure rigorous discipline. Like athletes, we must train hard and follow the rules. Like farmers, we must work extremely hard and be patient. But we keep going despite suffering because of the thought of victory, the vision of winning, and the hope of harvest. We will see that our suffering is worthwhile when we achieve our goal of glorifying God, winning people to Christ, and one day living eternally with him.
Note on verse 7
Paul told Timothy to think about his words, and God would give him understanding. God speaks through the Bible, his Word, but we need to be open and receptive to him. As you read the Bible, ask God to show you his timeless truths and the application to your life. Then consider what you have read by thinking it through and meditating on it. God will give you understanding.
I will include the next two notes, only because they are important truths that we should think about, not necessarily because I felt led to discuss them today.
Note on verse 8
False teachers were a problem in Ephesus (see Acts 20:29, 30; 1 Timothy 1:3-11). At the heart of false teaching is an incorrect view of Christ. In Timothy’s day many asserted that Christ was divine but not human – God but not man. These days we often hear that Jesus was human but not divine – man but not God. Either view destroys the good news that Jesus Christ has taken our sins on himself and has reconciled us to God. In this verse, Paul firmly states that Jesus is fully man (“born into King David’s family”) and fully God (“raised from the dead”). This is an important doctrine for all Christians.
Note on verse 9
Paul was in chains in prison because of the Good News he preached. The truth about Jesus is no more popular in our day than in Paul’s , but it still reaches receptive hearts. When Paul said that Jesus was God, he angered the Jews who had condemned Jesus for blasphemy; but many Jews became followers of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:24). He angered the Romans who worshiped the emperor as god; but even some in Caesar’s household turned to Jesus (Philippians 4:22). When Paul said Jesus was human, he angered the Greeks, who thought divinity was soiled if it had any contact with humanity; still many Greeks accepted the faith (Acts 11:20, 21). The truth that Jesus is one person with two united natures has never been easy to understand, but it is being believed by people every day. Despite the opposition, continue to proclaim Christ. Some will listen and believe.
Right now, I am to the point of only caring for my spiritual well-being. I believe there comes a time when we have to put life on hold as much as we can and reassess our life, our mental state and our spiritual state. Jesus demands that we love Him more than anyone, including husband, children and parents. If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. Matthew 10: 37 My husband has battered me so much mentally, emotionally and spiritually over the past 4 years that I simply cannot reconcile to him on my own, nor do I want to even try. The only way that we will reconcile is if God steps in and heals our marriage and fixes our hearts. As far as I am concerned, we both have some major overhauling that needs to take place within our hearts. My husband, on the other hand, believes I have more work to do than he does. As far as he is concerned, he has a better understanding and grasp of God’s Word than I do. I don’t know. I won’t argue with him if that is truly how he feels. I trust God to have the answer, not my husband.
That brings up a thought that has been working on me for several days now which I may write about in the near future…the idea of recognizing counterfeit people or people that have a counterfeit understanding of God’s word. I’ll end today with that and maybe tomorrow God will have given me fuller and richer understanding of this though.
One last thing, I will say this about my despair, God has affirmed me twice today and I know that I am still His child and still in His good graces. So, even though I am despairing, I have God’s affirmation to cling to! Praise Him for His grace and mercy!
Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24 I give my body to You because of all You have done for me. Let my body be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind You will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship You. I won’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but I will let You transform me into a new person by changing the way I think. Then I will learn to know Your will for me, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 Amen.
May God provide the increase.
