2 Timothy 2 - Unchained Growth

        The good news is that “Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead” (2:8).  Jesus Christ, our God, reigns.  The Lord of Heaven’s Armies (Jeremiah 8:3) is growing His Kingdom.  It gets better.  Jesus expects us, His people, to go and make disciples.  God’s prepared many good works for us to do as we go and build alongside the Master Builder.

        It doesn’t always go well.  There are hard times.   There are times when it seems that everyone has deserted us (1:15) and we are all alone.  Can you imagine being a pioneer in Northern Saskatchewan like my ancestors?   Man, they were tough.  Yet we are never alone.  The Holy Spirit, just as Jesus promised, is within us.  He loves us and gives us the power, discipline, wisdom, and motivation necessary to hold onto the promise of God and to obey God until Christ’s return.

        Do you ever wonder, what's next?  Are you ever worried that you are wasting your life or busy doing things the world approves of but God does not?  Trust God.

        Some things are contingent.  Meaning first this, then that.  We see that in 2:20-21.  First obedience and holiness, then Holy Spirit-guided work.  Friends, we are free men and women.  The reason Paul tells Timothy to be strong and self-disciplined and to use his evidenced-based reasoning and gifting is that it is indeed every person’s responsibility to do so.

        We have free will from God so that through the Holy Spirit’s guidance we can make real change, turn from evil, and do infinitely more than we can imagine - just as God wills and plans for us to do.

        From the truth that God our Father grants free will, it follows that we can indeed waste our lives.  We can be weak or strong.  Obedient or disobedient.  We can be trustworthy churchmen or shameful failures.  In turn, God says we can indeed find and teach trustworthy people to pass on God’s teaching and to do His work.

        God’s expectations and standards for his people are high.  Paul does not preach politically correct feel-good theology.  Ever.  God says, “If we deny him, he will deny us,” (2:12), and “All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil” (2:19).  You and I, every believer in Jesus Christ, have the responsibility to grow.  Grow personally and grow God’s church.

        For us not to waste our lives, we must know our roles and we must have a growth mindset.  We are slaves to Jesus Christ, bought with His blood on the Cross.  And because of that, we can overcome any obstacle.

        This life as a Christian is special and unique.  It is like no other.  Each of us is designed by God, chosen in Christ.  God planned for our salvation and He knows us intimately.  He knows your name and everything about you.  Jesus paid the price on the Cross for all to be saved and He seeks none to be lost.

        Our role is akin to a good soldier.  Soldiers know their role and they have no deception about who is in charge.  Their officer is in charge.  Our officer is Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit writes the law of Christ on our consciences and we are promoted as God sees fit, and as we are prepared for every good work.  

        Good soldiers are well prepared and ready to fight the good fight, the Lord’s battles.  Their courage is greater than any fear.  As God’s soldiers we go where He says go and we do what He says do.  We do not pay lip service to the Bible.  Jesus said to be prepared for His return, to be sober-minded, and pure in thought and deed.

        God calls us to holiness.  God asks for and expects obedience out of his people.  God asks us to build, to make disciples of Jesus Christ.  Not our disciples.  God’s disciples.  

        We are to have no idol in country, wealth, fame, or fake gospel.  We are asked and expected to stop fighting.  Stop quarreling.  To be united.  And to be known for our love.  We are to care for our elderly parents, help all people, treat each other with justice, and seek godliness with contentment.

        We stop doing evil deeds (and thoughts! Jeremiah 7:5).  We stop exploiting the poor, orphans, foreigners, and widows.  Instead, we care for them.

        There is nothing more exciting than the Christian life.  God’s Kingdom is advancing.  In fact, God says that He commands His church to move forward - to expand His Kingdom (Jeremiah 7:24).  It is not too much to ask for God’s church to be trustworthy with this precious gift God has given us.

        If we are tied up in too many civilian or worldly activities we are not focused for our King and not prepared for His return.  Our responsibility is to please Jesus Christ - and to live according to his standard.  

        Good soldiers are never ashamed of the officer who enlisted them - even if held in chains as a prisoner of war.  Do you know what cannot be chained?  God’s word! (2:9).

        And our role in this earthly life is akin to being an athlete.  One who trains to win the prize.  One who does what it takes to win.  Good athletes don’t cheat.  You can’t cut corners if you are going to win.  You have to wake up, eat well, know your role on the team, listen to your coach, learn from your mistakes, learn from setbacks, and injuries, and be determined to train.  We play by God's rules to win the Crown of Life that God has promised to those who love Him and obey His commands.

        Be God’s athlete.  Jesus is the greatest player-coach.  For He loves us and yearns for us to win the prize.  Jesus plays alongside us!

        And the churchman is akin to the hardworking farmer.  We are humble  We are prepared to live in places without fancy restaurants or operas - rural places. We live near the crops because that’s what hardworking farmers do.  We wake up early.  Drink good coffee.  Figure out how to fix machinery and solve problems.  We enjoy the outdoors and we suffer through hardships, hail, floods, and hard weather.

        We fellowship with fellow farmers and we know how to celebrate harvests, births, weddings, and funerals with thanksgiving because we know our Good God.  God gives us a taste of the fruits of our labor because He wants to show us how much He loves us.

        Dear Lord Jesus, we need you today.  Please help us to understand all these things.  Please help us to understand where to serve, what to do, and how to do it.  We trust you alone.  Amen.

My brother, Rob Bell.  A great soldier.  He served 25 years.  In this picture, he's in Afghanistan (where he served three long tours).  Thank God for good soldiers.