“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:4
Dear Ones:
In the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus made a very extraordinary declaration to His disciples, with respect to their relationship with Him: “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit.” ( 15:16) As the Apostle Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, realizing that his departure from this world was near, he admonished him: “…endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2:3) Timothy’s calling, like that of the apostles, was one that embraced the concept of being a soldier…a good soldier. Indeed, Paul’s words were so very specific with regard to the calling that he spoke of being “…CHOSEN …to be a soldier.” (2:4) What is a soldier but one that is chosen, prepared, and endued with every effective resource, to fight the good fight, and to win? From a “natural” standpoint, Timothy is not a person whose propensity and disposition is that of a soldier. We see this when Paul writes to him: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7) In writing this, he is addressing God’s answer to the specific needs in Timothy’s heart, essential for him to BE the soldier that he has been called to be. Later Paul adds: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2:1) This is in order that Timothy be able, and enabled, to fulfill his ministry. What then about us? How does this apply to us? We are neither the apostles, or Timothy? To answer this question, let me quote you a stanza of a tremendous hymn:
“Soldiers of Christ, arise, and put your armor on,
Strong in the strength which God supplies through His eternal Son:
Strong in the Lord of Hosts, and in His mighty power,
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts, is more than conqueror.”
The believer, in his blessed call from Christ to first of all “come” to Him, is followed by the implication and blessed constraint, to “follow Him. There is within that calling, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, the call to conquer, to overcome, to “fight the good fight.” The hymn shows us in a very practical way HOW to accept and embrace that calling: “…who in the strength of Jesus trusts.” This is the key. Timothy, the apostles, and every believer has the same victorious Holy Spirit in the heart. It is as we learn truly what His indwelling means, and trust specifically in Christ for all that concerns His calling, that we overcome BY HIM, for His glory.
One last thought. Timothy needed to see that fear or timidity did not belong to him, for they did not belong to Christ. However, the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, did belong to him, being in Christ. He was to look to Christ for the strength even to believe it, being “strong in the strength which God supplies, through His eternal Son.” God would make Timothy strongest where he was the weakest.
Dear Father, give us a clear vision of our calling, and WHO it is that is calling. Open our eyes to see what we ARE in Christ, what we HAVE in Christ, strengthening us by the Spirit to believe Thee for it. Then we shall be good soldiers, fighting the good fight, more than conquerors, where You have placed us, where we each live. We thank and praise You in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad