Yesterday we began looking at Paul’s charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2. We looked in some detail at the first charge, “consider” in 2 Timothy 2:7. The next word is Remember, 2 Timothy 2:8.
Paul has exhorted his spiritual son to consider, think, ponder what he has said to him. The result will be, as Chuck pointed out in his comment yesterday that we will understand what Paul is saying. The charge is ministry heavy. Paul reminds Timothy that this is a hard assignment. He compares the propagation of the gospel to military service, athletics, and farming. Those can be all consuming.
The next word then is, remember. Remember what? Jesus. Resurrected. He is the reason for what needs to be considered. All too often those of us who are engaged in ministry of any kind become consumed with that ministry. Paul is reminding Timothy, and by extension us – well me at least – that the real issue is Jesus. We have to focus on Him.
It is for Jesus that Paul is suffering hardship. It is not for the ministry. In the midst of all that he is doing, his primary focus is Christ.
There are many who have been on the mission field and have been on hard ground. They work for years without seeing results. If they are doing that for the ministry they will become depressed and discouraged. If for their love for Christ, they will endure.
We need to remember what is important.
Paul has exhorted his spiritual son to consider, think, ponder what he has said to him. The result will be, as Chuck pointed out in his comment yesterday that we will understand what Paul is saying. The charge is ministry heavy. Paul reminds Timothy that this is a hard assignment. He compares the propagation of the gospel to military service, athletics, and farming. Those can be all consuming.
The next word then is, remember. Remember what? Jesus. Resurrected. He is the reason for what needs to be considered. All too often those of us who are engaged in ministry of any kind become consumed with that ministry. Paul is reminding Timothy, and by extension us – well me at least – that the real issue is Jesus. We have to focus on Him.
It is for Jesus that Paul is suffering hardship. It is not for the ministry. In the midst of all that he is doing, his primary focus is Christ.
There are many who have been on the mission field and have been on hard ground. They work for years without seeing results. If they are doing that for the ministry they will become depressed and discouraged. If for their love for Christ, they will endure.
We need to remember what is important.
Terrific reminder - how easy to lose focus on what should be our motivation, looking to Jesus Himself.
ReplyDeleteI was reminded today that when my eyes close for the last time the immediate sight I will see is the glorious face of - Jesus Himself!
I think of many I know, both personally and through missionary biographies or other writing and stories who labored faithfully at what they believed God wanted them to do, and saw very little they could identify with that "looked" like success. God is on an eternal quest. The duration of my puny life is nothing in the overall scope of what He is doing. Even the Apostle Paul could have felt this. But he saw what Jesus was doing, and going to do.
I think the old hymn had it right _"It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus...."