2Timothy 2:1. “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” BE STRONG. To be strong in grace means in grace that’s imparted; Grace that exceeds what is normal to man. Grace that’s from God when in me He first started; A work that’s still happening according to His plan.
To be strong in grace means that I have some choices; Choices I make that affect how I now live. For me not to act on the truths that God’s Word says, Would mean I despise the grace He does give.
To be strong in grace means a charge I have been given; It is not a suggestion, but a command that’s loud and clear. The things that I’ve learned as a message right from heaven, I’m now to tell others, as God’s truth I willingly do share.
The way that I act when the challenge is made, To pass to the younger folks, things I now know; Often speaks without words, backing up what I said, And they make their decisions based on what my life shows.
The grace that’s in Christ makes me not independent, But trusting completely in Him who is my Lord; By acting in faith on His faithful commandment, I am strengthened by grace to fulfill His own word.
The weakness of man shows how perfect is His power; That strength that is needed comes directly from Him. And the grace and the strength to live hour by hour; Enables by grace, each challenge there to win.
Victories won and lives soon affected, Happen because of the strengthening of God’s grace. Those who will learn and by God will be bless`ed, Are strong because they know, grace had in me first place.
“O Divine Teacher of all who open their ears to Your truth: the grace You have given without limit certainly gives the desire on my part to emulate that grace toward others. It is not easy for many to understand their absolute need of God. Most feel that independence is a great virtue. Help us all to realize it is in You alone that “we live and move and have our being.” In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
The multiplying principle is a practice that assures the maintenance of the work of God. One person teaching others, the things that have been passed on to him, and others teaching those same things to others, enables the work of God to expand and reach the world. A faithful steward [v.2, 24] is committed to more than the Gospel. Faithfulness to the teaching of the first epistle and oral ministry heard from others, are “the things that thou hast heard of me.” Timothy and many others had heard this. That which he had received from Paul had to become his own. He doesn't add to or take from the truth he has personally received. Truth is not private, but can and should be passed on. “The same commit thou” does not allow us to alter its content. “Commit” is a command to obey. “To faithful men" implies these are capable people who are trustworthy, reliable, competent, and have an ability to teach [1Cor.4:1-2, 9, 12]. These are also to be stewards of divine things, who will guard and promote them. “Others also” means others of a different kind:
not just other teachers but those who will guide and instruct all the saints. God intends us to teach others and pass on our faith. Our work is not done until new believers are able to pass on their faith and make disciples of others [Eph.4:12-13].
Hardship for the sake of our Lord has been the experience of believers from the early church until now. Many have suffered, and many still suffer, as a good soldier to meet the expectations of his Commanding Officer. Courage, commitment, and devotion to duty instead of pleasure seeking characterize those who rise to the challenge of divine service. We are not alone when we are under pressure for the sake of Christ and the Gospel. The names of honorable men and women are like a cloud of witnesses that surrounds us. A hardy soldier is willing to endure “hardship” (RV. “take thy part in suffering”), (“suffer hardship with me) like Paul exemplified as recorded in [2Cor.11:23-29] and act under orders given by another. The “man that warreth” is actively engaged in the things of God, not involved in civilian matters as distinct from military. Entanglement is the problem, not the existence of worldly things. Like soldiers, we have to give up worldly security and endure severe discipline by being willing to sacrifice to achieve the result we want – victory for the King.
2nd Timothy 2:3, 5, 6, 15, 24. “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ... And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully… The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits….Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth….And the servant of the Lord must not strive….” WHAT DO I SEE? The soldier has his eyes fixed on the Supreme Leader – Around his position, there is often much to distract. The Leader high up can see the whole scene before Him there – He knows when to call defense and when it’s best to attack.
The soldier has dropped off from him all the extras he did bear – He has even left his knapsack with nonessentials off of his back His Leader knows and trusts him to willingly do all his share – When the battle is over, both rejoice, and their joy will not lack.
The runner has eyes that are fixed upon the goal – His peripheral vision warns him of traps lying all around. There are sandy spots, mud bogs, and even some deep holes That keeps him from running well, so he will fall down on the ground.
Ahead out of his view and far beyond the last knoll Lies the finish line waiting and the soul-winner’s crown. With far-seeing eyes, the goal is seen clearly through the soul; Of the runner who is faithful and is willing to wait for renown.
The husbandman rises early, often before the light of the day, To prepare the land for seed so that it might prosper and fully yield. Others lie in late sleeping contented and in bed they stay; They don’t see what the husbandman sees, a latent harvest in the field.
Nothing lasting is accomplished until the farmer in every way Has labored intensely and then, before the Life-Giver, has kneeled Praying to the One who came to give life more abundantly, And who has promised to hear and answer his appeal.
Sitting at his bench with pencil and paper in his hand, The workman takes time to carefully study and visualize, What to others may seem meaningless - they don’t understand; The workman needs the final product to be seen with his eyes.
The hireling looks, and he can only see empty land, But the workman sees a building, not on paper but full-sized, First in his mind, then rising until there in completeness it stands; He has learned from The Master that study makes a workman wise.
Quietly, he stands waiting like a vessel to be used. Not acting arbitrarily or trying to do things on his own. His role is that of a trusted servant committed to the truth, And he has to have patience, though the Master may be gone.
Perhaps he has served faithfully right from the days of youth, And he thinks now it is reasonable to quit before he’s done; But then he thinks again, and to the loving Master he is true, And though others walk away, he will serve the Master all alone.
“O Lord God of the laborers in the field: much is to be learned from the different occupations Thou hast laid out for Thy people. May each of us learn the role we have been given and apply ourselves to fulfilling that calling with vigor and enthusiasm. May I not be found sleeping when I should be in the battle? May I keep my eyes looking for the unseen goal beyond the day of recompense? May I labor steadily in the field to which I am called and not leave the work half done. May I always be ready to hear Thy voice and act on Thy commands. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
In passing on these holy truths, there is a toll taken on the son-servant. There is hardship and suffering that cannot be avoided, like a soldier on the battlefield in constant danger. He has left the security of home life and civilian interests to train and learn the discipline necessary to adapt and learn closely with others how to provide safety and security for family and the nation until the defeat of the enemy. Now the training time is over, and the hardship and suffering are real. We are in the middle of a battle. In active service, a soldier is not concerned with the affairs of civilian life. The only thing that matters to a common soldier is what matters to the Commander and what He wants me to do.
A trained athlete has learned the value of perseverance. A crown is in view, so he must practice self- discipline [1Cor.9:27; Heb. 12:1-2] and “lay aside” anything that hinders him from running. We need to learn to use spiritual weapons [2Cor.10:4] as a soldier, and as an athlete; keep pure, know the regulations, and run the race of faith lawfully. The servant of the Lord must not strive but be patient, like athletes who must train hard in the rigorous and long program until they are able to endure the strain and go farther than others. The servant-son must understand he is not at liberty to make up his own rules of service. Training is important, and included in that training time is how to compete within the parameters of truth. The athlete trains physically and mentally to commit himself to adhere to the regulations given by those in authority. Our authority is the revealed will of God. If that is not done, one is disqualified and all the effort is in vain. Commitment to self-discipline and to following the rules is necessary in order to receive the prize – the vision of winning for the Lord's glory.
Every diligent farmer rises early, works hard, and does everything he can and knows how to do, day after day, with patience. He does his work in private, and very few people ever know the amount of effort he puts forth before the harvest is brought in. In order to enjoy the benefits of the harvest, he must labor hard in the field. Often, the farmer will go without sleep and work until he is exhausted. It is in the labor before the harvest where he suffers most and cannot relax his efforts. The husbandman must labor with all diligence, long and hard, in order to bring in a successful harvest. The preparation of the ground is a far more labor- intensive work than that of bringing in the harvest. Seeding calls for an outlay of personal cost; cultivation of the crop calls for long, extended times of seemingly useless labor. He knows he does not produce the harvest. God does that. But he prepares the ground, cares and watches over the field, doing all in his power to bring about a good harvest. His "labor is not in vain." When the harvest is brought in, even though it does not take a lot of time, those who have labored patiently in hope of harvest will rejoice in their labor and their trust in God’s mercies.
Sometimes we have to stop and reflect on all we have learned in order to gain the necessary insight needed to pass on divine truth. We have to think about it long enough to know the meaning behind it and what the intention of the lesson is. To know what the truth is and why it is important calls for our meditation so that God can speak to us through His word and then to others through us. When we are open and receptive to Him, our understanding is the result that gives us the way to reach those with whom we are presently laboring. These illustrations Paul used open up a lot of understanding, especially if one has been a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. To comprehend truth is needed in order to pass it on appropriately to others who will, in turn, pass it on and teach others.