2 Timothy: Guard The GospelSample

What does true discipleship look like? What does it look like to follow Jesus single-mindedly? Paul gives three pictures that show us how we should live.

Firstly, we should be like soldiers. We live to serve Jesus and should strive to please him by being loyal, focused and obedient. Just as a good soldier will be undistracted from his mission by pursuing civilian activities, so good soldiers of Christ Jesus will focus their attention on obeying him. That doesn’t mean having no interests or hobbies, but these shouldn’t distract us from gospel work.

Most of us work or study or have family members to care for, and we need to fulfil our responsibilities diligently. But gospel ministry must also be a priority. Are you missing opportunities to serve Jesus because entertainment or sport or other hobbies are more important to you? Do you need to consider sacrificing a promotion or other career advancement, so you can be more committed to your small group or youth ministry or other areas of service? Could you be more intentional about building relationships with unbelievers you can share the gospel with? Our focus must be on serving Jesus.

The next two pictures portray hard work and discipline. We are to be like athletes and farmers. To compete in the Olympic Games requires a high level of fitness that can only be achieved by months of rigorous training. To be a successful competitor means discipline and self-sacrifice. But the successful athlete is rewarded with a medal of victory. Similarly, farming requires long hours and hard work. A farmer must sacrifice sleep and other comforts to be successful. But if they do, they will be rewarded with good crops.

In the same way, Paul says we must work hard with single-minded devotion and discipline. And if we do, we will see fruit – lives changed for eternity by the gospel. This is our motivation to work hard at gospel ministry. We anticipate the joy of seeing lives transformed for God’s glory.

Reflection

What things get in the way of you serving Jesus wholeheartedly? What might you need to sacrifice to be more fruitful in your areas of service? Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you as you reflect on these verses.