Calvary Baptist Church
We all have heard the saying, “no pain, no gain.” Well, it can be difficult to apply this principle to the Christian life properly. On one hand, salvation is free. We could never merit God’s favor. However, on the other, the Bible challenges us about what we must do (with God enabling us). Part of what we must do is endure hardship. Life is not easy folks, never has been since the beginning. If you read the Bible you know this as well as I do. If anyone ever bore hardship in the work of the Lord, it was Paul. Even at the time when 2 Timothy was written, Paul was enduring in another way, lonely imprisonment that would end in his death.
Timothy needed more than a great example. Paul knew he would benefit from strong teachings that described the demands of the work of the Lord realistically. Many things in life call for strength, even when we are tired and feel weak.
Paul had written that he considered Timothy to be his spiritual son. The apostle gave a principle for ensuring the success of the Christian message. They must be faithful (reliable). Able to receive the gospel, experience it, and pass it on to others. Timothy had heard Paul on many occasions in the presence of many witnesses say the challenge was to pass the gospel on to others and to commit the message to those who caught the vision of faithfulness.
If the message is transmitted in a distorted way, then the message would be distorted. And if the message stopped being passed on, theoretically Christianity would fade into a distant memory.
Each generation of believers must embrace the huge responsibility to faithfully receive, preserve, and pass on the gospel message to others. This includes those of us who are believers.
Paul encouraged Timothy to be strong and to follow his example and not be ashamed of the gospel. Be able to receive the gospel as well as pass it on and be committed and faithful.
We must be strong and ask the Lord to give us understanding. As Christians we may sometimes have to suffer or endure difficult situations for the sake of the gospel. Paul can be an inspiring example to us of one who was willing to endure so that the gospel of Jesus Christ could continue to be shared with others. He describes that in verse 8 of 2 Timothy 2.
2 Timothy 2: 8 says: “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel.” (KJV).
Many times in our Christian lives we may feel weak, we may feel assaulted on every side of hardship, and we may be tempted to give up and give in. However, we must remind ourselves that our strength comes from Jesus himself. Jesus is the focus of the gospel, the source of strength, and the greatest example of faithfulness in face of suffering.
So remember, when you feel weak and tired, be strong in the work of the Lord and call on the Lord for your strength and never forget just how good God really is.