11 May. Day 248.
2 Timothy 2
Consider
I’ve heard it said that the only person to welcome change is a baby with a wet nappy! Not quite true perhaps but it does indicate that many of us are fearful of change and that it’s what we remove from our life that leads to contentment.
In today’s reflection Paul reminds us that in order to be “a good soldier of Christ,” [v3] we must stay focussed on the military campaign before us and avoid getting involved in civilian affairs. We are warned not to get sidetracked with “quarrelling about words” [14] or “godless chatter” [16]. As the Lord’s servants we should beware of being distracted by “foolish and stupid arguments” [23] that only produce quarrels. Such things might start off in a trivial way but they can end up being a “trap of the devil” [26] and difficult to break free from.
Our mission is to be a workman or a soldier of Christ who is not ashamed to speak the truth plainly.
Our goal is “eternal glory” [10] and anything that distracts from this is to be eliminated from our lives so God can use us for “any good work” [21].
Reflect on verses 21 & 22.
Paul uses common household imagery to illustrate that we have the choice to be available to God.
If you’ve decided to be a soldier of God are you ready to do your duty and let him use you for anything? If not you can’t be placed in the gold and silver category. Let go of the things in your life that you know aren’t in line with God’s design. When you surrender these things to God, even though in the short term it may create hardship, he’ll have the freedom to work in you for much higher purposes than you’ve ever imagined.
Pray
For release from those things, large or small, that hold you back in your relationship with God or which distract you from your goal “eternal glory.”
Timothy 2
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