English
Scripture Summary
2 Timothy 2:1-7 NIV
The Appeal Renewed
2 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
Reflection on the Scripture:
When the frog lived comfortably in the slowly heating pot, it felt very comfortable, but it didn't know that it had gradually lost the ability to jump. In the end, he died because he didn't know his situation. If you go into the battlefield with a playground attitude, you will surely suffer casualties, because “your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8) The apostle Paul said in his letters He has reminded believers many times that they are on the battlefield (Ephesians 6, Phil 2:25, 2 Tim 2:24, Phil 1:2), so he often uses standing firm to describe believers who must stick to their posts. In this final letter, he again reminded this important warning to his spiritual son and successor in ministry, Timothy. Paul proposes several strategies:
1. Be strong: This is not the strength of relying on yourself, but the strength that comes from believing in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not the strength that comes from flesh and blood, but the strength that comes from believing in God’s promises, because “If God is for us, who can be against us?” " (Romans 8:31), is to rely on the strength of God's word (Philippians 4:8, 2 Timothy 2:7, Hebrews 4:12, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2, Psalm 119:115... ).
2. Have a strong team: This war is not fought alone, nor is it short-lived, but a lifetime. Therefore, we should not only care about ourselves, but also take care of our comrades (Phil. 2:4, Heb. 10:24), and we should continue to train new soldiers (2 Tim. 2:2). Because the secret to victory lies in a strong team as a whole.
3. Be attentive: when you know you are on the battlefield, you must know that you are between life and death. Know that Satan's greatest weapon is to distract people with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of this life in the world, so that they forget that they are on the battlefield. Then he will be like a frog in warm water, destroying himself. Jesus Christ also reminded believers to be alert, that is, to be attentive. This is an indispensable strategy for victory and an expression of pleasing the Lord Jesus.
If you fight according to the above strategies, you will definitely get rewards. On the battlefield, you must not only win the battle, but more importantly, get rewards. The final victory is inevitable because the resurrection of the Lord Jesus has conquered everything. The believer's reward lies in how he matches the Lord's promises in the course of this war. If you follow the above strategies, you will be like a hard-working farmer and have a rich harvest. You will surely receive eternal rewards from God. Do you know you are on a battlefield? What is your strategy? Do you desire a reward? Do you think rewards are optional?
Response through Hymn:
Onward Christian soldiers
https://youtu.be/64K7HmLM54Y?si=PQ90XX16sEuD_F9h
基督精兵
https://youtu.be/TH2ImtHeu5Y
当转眼仰望耶稣
https://youtu.be/e6tQwsWOe9c
I am the Lord’s army
https://youtu.be/nJoB5XCQ5gs?feature=shared