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Thus far we have examined how an athlete must have a clear plan and undergo a rigorous training process. However, 2 Tim 2:5 reminds us that an athlete must also abide by the rules to receive the winner’s crown. What “rules” does God expect from us? Read Luke 12:35–48 at this juncture. These familiar parables teach us that God expects us to be consistently faithful in service. Faithfulness in service is that straight and narrow path we walk on after…

Spiritual growth, like all kinds of growth, is not automatic. There is in fact a very specific Methodist process for spiritual growth. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, crafted three simple guides for Christian discipleship and growth. In Methodism, they became known as The General Rules. The institution of the class meeting and the first two rules essentially echo Romans 12:9 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” John Wesley instructed Methodists…

Moving from the imagery of a soldier, Paul now uses the imagery of an athlete. 2 Tim 2:5 says, “Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.” If the imagery of a soldier seeking only to please his commanding officer teaches us the need to have a clear purpose, the imagery of an athlete teaches us the need to have a clear plan for training. Paul wrote in…

We return to 2 Tim 2:3 where Paul writes, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Being a Christian necessarily entails embracing suffering or persecution. In today’s world we have plenty of preachers and Christians alike who only embrace all the benefits Christ brings but reject God’s gracious invitation to participate in the sufferings of Christ. While it is true that Christ’s death and resurrection brings us a lot of benefits – and I would readily admit…

In our previous devotions, we saw the need to cut away the entanglement of sin. What other things might we find ourselves easily entangled in? In Luke 22:34–36, Jesus warns, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and…

Today we continue examining the call to be a dutiful soldier for Jesus Christ (in 2 Tim 2:4). Years ago, I used to clear rope entanglements in a ship’s propeller in my vocation as a naval diver. It was a very laborious process. All we had was a simple knife. My team and I would take on an average of 4-6 hours to painstakingly cut through the huge mess of rope which was wound around the propeller. If these entanglements…

Today we begin by examining the soldier imagery. Paul says in v.4, “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” To be prepared for Jesus’ return, the foremost need is to have a clear priority. Our priority must be to live our lives in such a way that pleases Jesus our Lord and commanding officer. If a commanding officer sends a soldier out to the battlefield, it would be…

As I sought the Lord on how we can be prepared for His return, He impressed upon me 2 Timothy 2:1–7. We begin with v.7, where Paul tells his spiritual son Timothy: “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this” (NIV). And so we pray, “Lord, graciously grant us insight to understand Your Word. Amen.” Paul uses three imageries to exhort every Christian to model after: a dutiful soldier, a disciplined athlete,…