the Rev. Henry Huenemann
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3).
Bible Reading
2 Timothy 2:1-15:Devotional
When a young man enlists in the army of his country, he does not expect an easy life. He knows there will be hardships to endure and dangers to face. So it is when a man is called of God to become a soldier of Jesus Christ. He, too, must be aware of the fact that hardships and persecutions await him. To endure these it is necessary to be strong. Paul admonishes Timothy: "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus . . . Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." We must notice that Paul says, Be strong "in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." A soldier of Christ must not rely on his own strength, but must realize with Paul: "By the grace of God I am what I am." But he cannot escape hardship and suffering, as Paul clearly indicates when he writes to Timothy: "Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God." These afflictions must be endured. It means to war a good warfare. And the fight must be carried on in a lawful manner, in order to obtain the crown of victory. We must remember, our fight is a fight of faith. Do we feel our insufficiency, our weakness? Let us remember that his grace is sufficient, and his mighty power is upon us, "that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us"; that He may
receive all the glory.
Prayer
Almighty God, help us to realize that when we are weak, we are strong. May we never in the least rely on our own strength; but may we remember that we can do all things through him that strengthened us. May we realize that the power is never in us, but in the gospel we preach, and in the truth which we confess. O God, forbid that we should ever be ashamed of Jesus, and deny the truth as it is in him. May we speak with boldness and authority, so that the power of Satan may be broken, and many souls brought into Thy everlasting kingdom. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Scripture in Devotional: 2 Tim. 2:3; 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Tim. 1:8; 4:5; 1 Tim. 1:18; 2:5; 2 Cor. 12:9; 4:7.
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