Practice to WIN! -- Ability to “War a Good Warfare”

Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Read 2 Timothy 2:1-5
By John Smith

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of a soldier? Do you envision a weak, frail or feeble person? Certainly not! As Paul encouraged Timothy to be strong in the grace of Jesus Christ and be a good soldier, his writings also reminds us that we are not members of a losing army. However, there are certain requirements that will test the ability of a good soldier. One such requirement involves enduring hardships.

Back in early 2009, many hardships came on our family. Kim and I lost a baby, Ben had been hospitalized for a short period of time, and someone was snooping around our home while we were there. These events occurred within a month-and-a-half period. Relying on my own strength and my personal ability to lead my family would have been a weak, frail and feeble decision. However, the captain of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ led us through these hardships, because we realized it was only through His ability and strength that we could battle.

If your initial response to the question in the first paragraph involved the picture of a man or woman in uniform with a strong physique, then you are not alone. God also desires us, His children to be strong spiritually (good soldiers of Jesus Christ). It is not our ability to fight that makes us a winner individually or collectively, but the aspiration we have to please Him who has chosen us to be a soldier. We cannot win in the fight in spiritual matters while being entangled or tripped up by the (temporal) hardships in this life. Look to Jesus Christ, who has chosen us to be a soldier – the One who gives grace to help in our time of need.

Applying the Truth as an Individual
How does it make you feel to know you are a chosen soldier (v. 4) in Lord’s army?
What sin(s) or busy work - or as the scripture would put it, what affairs of this life hinder your service as a soldier?

Applying the Truth as a Church
How can we use this scripture reading to encourage the fellow soldiers in our company (brothers/sisters in Christ at Pleasant Valley)?

Verse 5 refers to our ability to win, but to do so by competing fairly. How do you think this is communicated to us as a body of believers (soldiers)?