June 24
Arts Camp is a day camp to help children ...
Athletes for Christ
Scripture: Jonah 1-4, 2 Timothy 2
2 Timothy 2:2-3 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (NIV)
2 Timothy 2:10 So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. (NLT)
Observation/application
The gospel spreads person-to-person. There are four generations in verse 2: Paulàhis listenersàreliable menàothers. Pass it on! I want to create a pass it on culture at our church!
One of the things we pass on is a willingness to endure hardship or suffering in order to advance the gospel. Paul says “pass it on” in v. 2 and in v. 3 says, “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus.” One of the things we pass on is the expectation that we will face opposition, hardship, and suffering in order to spread God’s word. In v. 10 Paul expresses his willingness to endure anything if it will help others be saved! We pass on the gospel and this passion to share it!
Paul uses the metaphor of a soldier, and later, an athlete and farmer—all work hard and make sacrifices to reach their goals. The early Christians used these metaphors frequently—they wanted to be good soldiers for Jesus, and live as athletes for Christ—champions. A soldier accepts that he will experience hardship and suffering—it goes with being a soldier. The same with a champion athlete—it takes lots of painful training and sacrifice. We are soldiers for Christ, athletes for Christ, willing to do whatever it takes to pass on the gospel.
We are called to pass on the gospel, and be willing to pay any price to do it.
Prayer: Lord, I am often more enthusiastic about other things than I am sharing the gospel. And I tend to avoid hardship and suffering. Fire my heart with enthusiasm for Jesus and make me willing to pay any price to see others saved.