"Strengthened by the Grace"

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, ² and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. ³ Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.  ⁵ An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. ⁷ Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2 Timothy 2:1-7 ESV)

It is no secret that if you have read 1 and 2 Timothy, Paul looks at Timothy as his spiritual child. He refers to Timothy often as his child. Shortly before his death, Paul wrote this Pastoral Epistle to Timothy, who was in Ephesus preaching the gospel. Paul reminds Timothy that just as he has been persecuted, so will Timothy. This letter is also a reminder to remain anchored in Christ, strengthened by the grace of the Lord. Paul ordained Timothy, and the many witnesses were the gathering of elders, the faithful men, presumably overseers and bishops.

In his writing, Paul likens Timothy’s service to Christ through three analogies: vocation, military, athletics, and farming. These analogies serve as a reminder to Timothy that in the persecution and suffering he will endure, he does so as a servant of the Lord, a soldier of faith. His suffering is a sharing in the suffering of Christ, and he is to remain faithful to Christ, resisting the entanglements of civilian pursuits. Timothy’s only goal is to serve Christ, who “enlisted him” through his calling. A good soldier serves his commander to the end, and Christ is ours as He was Timothy’s. This perseverance in the face of challenges is a testament to the strength of our faith.

In the analogy of athletics, Paul reminds Timothy to remain faithful to the scriptures and all that Paul had taught him in the arena of evangelism and church planting. Paul frequently used the analogy of athletics, referring to himself as having “fought the Good fight,” “finished the race,” and “kept the faith” despite his constant persecution. (4:7-8)

In the farmer’s analogy, Paul reminds Timothy to remain diligent in his service to the Lord. It is the farmer who toils heavily in the field and is rewarded when the crops are harvested. So, it is in the service of Christ that the spiritual rewards are seen through the fruits of the spiritual labor in Christ's name. This service is not in vain, and the rewards are not just material but spiritual and eternal, bringing a deep sense of fulfillment and reward.

Lastly, Paul reminds Timothy to meditate on the scriptures and on what Paul has advised him regarding all things related to Christ. Paul knows his end is coming and attempts to comfort Timothy and encourage Him to hold to Christ in his absence.

We, akin to Timothy, should do exactly as Paul told Timothy. While not all of us are ordained in life as servants of Christ, we are ordained or the intended children of God. In this ordination, we should follow Paul’s advice by holding on to Christ in all things, living as his servant, and centering our lives upon Jesus.

By following this advice, we spread the gospel in the grocery store, at the gas pump, and wherever God gives us an opening, doing it boldly. Those who strive to fulfill the great commission will be persecuted, no doubt.  However, in our suffering for Christ, we are bound to him. In our armor of God, fighting the good fight and finishing the race, we, too, who till the field and plant the seeds, will yield to the Lord a bounty of souls to be redeemed.

The resurrection was the center of Paul’s theology; it was the basis of all the hope in Christ that Paul spoke, taught, and believed. It should be yours as well. Do you Christ as your redeemer, your Savior? Have you carried the armor of God and know its weight?

If you do not know Christ, seek Him now. Eternal life is made available to you now. Do not wait; choose life, choose Christ. The urgency of this choice cannot be overstated, and the importance of seeking Christ for salvation is paramount.

Grace and Peace.