Daily I remind myself of my failings and daily I ask for His grace and His power to be used through me for good in His kingdom. My only hope is in Him. With that hope is the knowledge that in Him all things are possible. May God grant me the courage to be changed and with that change to make a difference in the life of someone else.
2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel
but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
The NKJV says: Paul exhorts Timothy to be faithful. The emphasis is on the strength of Christ, not on Timothy's own power. If we trust in ourselves, we are doomed to fail. Timothy is commanded to commit Paul's teaching to faithful men. Faithful men then have the responsibility of teaching others. The Christian walk is often presented as spiritual warfare. Effective service calls for singleness of purpose. No competitor could be crowned unless he competed in accordance with the rules. Here the reference is to a victor's wreath given in an athletic contest. Paul is saying that spiritual activity must be conducted within the directives of biblical faith and doctrine. To defect from true doctrine is to lose our reward. Timothy is commanded to remember Christ's resurrection. The seed of David emphasizes Jesus' humanity and the fact that He would fulfill all the promises God had given to David. God uses His word to accomplish His purposes. There are numerous examples of people who were antagonistic to God's truth but who surrendered their lives to God when He kept after them. We must not hide the gospel, but instead let it go forth unchained in spite of our own limitations. Believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection which become our death to sin and our resurrection to eternal life. Jesus will not save those who shrink from identifying with Him or from serving Him on this earth. Like priests, we have the privilege of approaching near to God, and the responsibility of helping others in reconciling themselves to Him. Paul encouraged Timothy to handle the word of truth in a straight way, like a road that goes straight to its goal, without being turned aside by useless debates. We choose to serve the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit in order to be useful to our Master. The Lord's servant must not battle with words, but instead must be gentle and kind to all. One of Satan's tactics is to cause divisions in the church.
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