SJF - Daily Worship, Word and Spirit - Oct. 21, 2023

What do we teach a believer who has learned to rest in The Spirit, to receive from Christ Jesus and to trust God? Be strong in the grace of God. “The LORD is our strength.”  So do what we teach you and reproduce yourself in others.

Don’t get hung up on the statement, “reproduce yourself”. You can only teach what you model. This is a message to spiritual people, especially to those who are mature and are called to lead others.

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 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. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.” (2 Timothy 2:1–7, NKJV)

Apostle Paul teaches Pastor Timothy to be strong in The LORD. Stay empowered by the grace of God. Keep building the kingdom of God. Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. We may not be “soldiers”, but when it comes to hardships, we should endure in the same way a soldier endures by staying faithful to his orders and purpose. The crown is only given to the one who competes according to the rules. The rules are, “Stay in faith and grace.” Or, “Be faithful to the calling wherewith you are called.” Or, “Be imitators of God as dear children.” Remember, “Faith, Hope and Love remain and the greatest of these is Love.”