2 Timothy 2
At home I like to run a vege garden
Nothing beats fresh grown vege’s
Sometimes my vege patch throws me
as some years I’m able to go about getting a crop in
other years I simply can’t find the time to get that done
so some years like this year getting through all the weeds and the grass runners and turning over the soil and hoeing the beds for the seeds and seedlings is nothing short of hard work
it’s not a one and done job either
it’s like once I start I have to go on war with the weeds
if I miss a week the plants start getting chocked out
same with the fertilisers if miss get the good nutrients into the soil the plants are poor things
as I think about my vege patch I also get to thinking like Paul does here in his letter to Timothy
what kind of footing is my walk with Jesus on
is my story about a life of growth in love and grace
am I progressing in my love for Jesus and looking more and more to Jesus
have a taken a break from the weeding and so am finding my heart beset with idols that have turned my head away from God
see how’s your vege patch to your soul going?
As Paul gets us looking at ourselves as in a mirror
how well do we know ourselves
First things first Paul points us the direction of on whether we are living our lives on a peace time footing or living like we are at war
As we read in 2 Timothy 2:1-7
1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me saya in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
Soldier, athlete farmer
Paul writes among the sorrowful news of widespread defections among Christians experiencing persecution or even just the temptations to live like the world defections occurring throughout the churches he first shared the good news of repentance and life in Jesus throughout modern day Turkey and Greece
Take the long view of the battle around you we’re told
You living life like you’re at peace or at war
We’re at war
The war that rages on around
The war that goes on in our soul
The war in which the devil prowls like a roaring lion
Here Paul says we’re all
Soldiers on active service so don’t expect times to be easy or life to be safe
Hardship and risk come as a matter of course
Look around and see the war that rages for your very soul
It’s a battle
Fight well
lengthen your view of the battles
as someone put it this way…
“If you think that one week of “shock and awe” combat will win this war, you’re bound for disappointment. If you’re looking for some quick fix, an easy answer, a one-and-done solution, then you’ll never really understand the nature of the honest fight. And if you promise easy, once-for-all victories to others, then you’ll never be much help to other strugglers. “ [1]
have a vision for the long haul of the battle gong on
like the athlete in training verse 5
5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.
In the ancient world athletes who competed in the Olympiad had to first complete a 10 month hard training regime
At the end of it they had to take an oath
That they had completed these 10 months of training
Verse 6
6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.