In Order to Teach, We Must Suffer Hardship

Photo by Archives New Zealand

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:3-4

Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

Insights: At this point in the passage, Paul is going to use three examples.  Today we observe the first which surrounds the concept of soldiers.  Soldiers do not get to determine their own skirmishes with which they desire to engage.  They are under the command of an officer who sees the big picture of the entire war and not the myopic view of a singular battle.  As a result, the commander may send the soldiers into an area in which the fighting will be intense and casualties may occur.  It is for this reason we can rightly say that a soldiers life is not easy.  They suffer hardships on a daily basis.  They have to make many sacrifices for the greater good of the society for which they wage war.  These same truths apply to us who are in Christ Jesus.  We have to fight many battles.  We may find ourselves in situations where we have to suffer for the kingdom of God.  We may get to the place we are incapable of seeing the larger picture, but we must trust our Commander to know the eternal perspective of our present situation.  Beloved, it is not easy being a Christ-follower, but it is the greatest thing we will ever do.  Let me challenge you as you teach/disciple other believers to do so no matter the hardships you will face.  There will be days you want to through your hands up in the air a retreat from the battle.  There will be times you question the value of the engagement.  There will be days you want to go A.W.O.L., but let me encourage you to hold your post.  Teach well those who will pick up the mantle of Christ after you are gone.  Trust the Lord for His perfect plan.

Questions:

 1. What kind of hardship have you experienced as a result of teaching other people about the grace of the Lord?

 2. Are you willing to experience new hardships in order for the Lord to be brought glory in your life?

Prayer: Father, thank You for never leaving me in the midst of my hardships.  You have called me to suffer for Your glory, but Lord oh how I don’t like pain.  Help my heart to be more concerned about You than my very own comfort.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.