WALKING WORTHY
  • Family Blog
    • Autumn's Story
  • Knowing Christ
  • Resources
  • About Us

We Soldier On

7/29/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

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. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 2 Timothy 2:4-7 KJV


  Paul says to Timothy, Hey, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. What you have heard from me, tell to other faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
  • No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
  • An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
  • It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
Then he tells Timothy, Listen, think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 

In this context, Paul gives Timothy a number of illustrations and analogies, according to all of which self-denial and persistent work are important.
Paul encouraged Timothy to continue on, pursue, be strengthened by Jesus our Captain. He enlisted us. My captain is Jesus. I will suffer-endure hardships-if I am a soldier for Jesus. It's a given. As my trials increase: I need to grow stronger, my faith stronger, my love for God stronger, my trust stronger. None of these do I do in my own strength (2Timothy 2:1,2) but by the Grace given by Jesus!

Last night we visited a couple nestled in a valley of the hills of Ohio on the end of long country road about 25 min from our church. From the door an older looking man with a slight limp greeted us. Upon entering M. his wife 15 years younger, warmly greeted us surrounded by his 4 grandchildren.

With a slow southern drawl, E. talked about how much he enjoyed our little church on the hill. M. quickly agreed. I listened as she shared with me her story of childlessness, her hysterectomy gone wrong, chronic back pain and knee pain.  She was taking care of her ailing father and her mother... she is only 41. My heart went out to her. Life is so hard and it hurts.

The conversation turned to Jesus. How Jesus changed my heart. How Jesus completely filled up Michael's heart at the age of 13.  Living in broken home filled with insecurities...God reached down and rescued him from his sin, wrapped His arms around Michael and filled Him up with a new hope, a new purpose, new life, all because of Jesus.

We asked, "How would you describe your relationship with God? What do you think God requires to have a relationship with God”?

They both answered the typical church, giving myself, bringing others to church...but M. said something telling, “But my sin bothers me."

Michael preceded to tell the old old story of how our God is Holy, He does not and cannot tolerate sin. God is just, and cannot overlook our sin.  At the end of those two points, both agreed that we were all in trouble including them. Which brought us to the best point of all...

God is loving and has reached out to us. Jesus completed the perfect exchange: Our substitute, His righteousness, our payment in full.

Both E and M looked at us in disbelief and said, “No one has ever told it to us like that!”

No one? Has told them? They had gone to church here and there, they have been taught Christian beliefs, but had never been sat down and told the simple, glorious, powerful, life changing Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus and only Jesus is the Gospel Theme. Simple, yet we feel as if we have to DO SOMETHING.

I wish I could say that they were gloriously saved. I cannot. Because they knew the religious terms of Christianity, but not Christ's transforming power of salvation. They have eagerly agreed to the exchange Bible study and will be in church again on Sunday.

Why do I tell that story? I need to continue on in Walking worthy of the calling God has called us to: One of which is reaching others with the Powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The days that feel hard, without purpose, a struggle to get through, if I remember that I am a soldier in Jesus army…He’s my Captain…my purpose, then I can identify with Timothy and be encouraged by Paul’s admonition.

My captain is Jesus. I will suffer -endure hardships-if I am a soldier for Jesus. It's a given. As my trials increase: I need to grow stronger, my faith stronger, my love for God stronger, my trust stronger. None of these do I do in my own strength (2Timothy 2;1,2) but in strength from the GRACE that is in Jesus.

My purpose as a soldier is to please and serve my captain Jesus-the one who enlisted me.

”Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:1 KJV

However, my strength comes from the GRACE that is in Christ Jesus, my Captain.
Getting out of the house and giving the gospel is a wonderful encouragement in the Lord.

We soldier on following our Captain, the best, most blessed job in the world.
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    God reached down in love and rescued Cassandra from her sin at the age of 21: changing her life, purpose, and focus forever.

    Married for 25 years to Michael, she has served alongside him at Lighthouse Baptist Church—for 18 years--

    She’s a coffee loving homemaker, 12-year home educator, mother to 11 children, Pastors wife, creater of  Pros-and-Cons-of-Homeschooling.com and consultant for HomeWorks by Precept.

    With her unique and personal teaching style, she continues to be used by the Lord: sharing, counseling, and speaking to women about her favorite topic—Jesus.
     

    She is passionate about her children having a Biblical worldview in every subject and Is absolutely convinced that the living Gospel shows her children that the answer for their hearts is Jesus!

     


    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    October 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    March 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008

    RSS Feed

  • Family Blog
    • Autumn's Story
  • Knowing Christ
  • Resources
  • About Us