2 Timothy 2:3 (KJV) The Soldier’s Call

2 Timothy 2:3 (KJV)

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

 

Paul was well acquainted with the subject of this passage. Of the hardships he endured, he wrote:

 

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 (KJV)  

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

 

Albert Barnes writes, “Soldiers often endure great privations. Taken from their homes and friends; exposed to cold, or heat, or storms, or fatiguing marches; sustained on coarse fare, or almost destitute of food, they are often compelled to endure as much as the human frame can bear, and often indeed, sink under their burdens, and die. If, for reward or their country’s sake, they are willing to do this, the soldier of the cross should be willing to do it for his Saviour’s sake…”

 

We’ve misplaced our expectations if we have any idea other than hardship in the work of the ministry. Indeed, we have done a grand disservice to our faith by creating a kind of religious system that elevates those serving the Lord into celebrities rather than soldiers. I do not suggest we ask for hardship, nor do I encourage the members of the church to unnecessarily make it hard on their pastors. I’m just saying that when we do what we’ve been called to do, hardship will come.

·       Plan for it

·       Endure it

 

#EndureForChrist  #SoldierOfTheCross  #FaithThroughHardship  #MinistryChallenges  #ServingTheSaviour

The Soldier’s Call: 4 Realities of Hardness in Christian Service 

 

• Will you stand firm in the calling He has given you?

• Take the first step today by committing to face challenges with steadfast faith.

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To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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2 Timothy 2:3 (KJV) The Soldier’s Call

2 Timothy 1:1 (KJV) The Power of Testimony

2 Timothy 1:1 (KJV)

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

 

Paul’s calling and purpose were singular: “the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.” It was for this that he lived and died. He had once been an ardent opponent of the Christian faith, being zealous for his religious tradition. But then came the day he met Christ personally. In the face of this meeting, he could never be the same. He spent the rest of his life telling others about the living Jesus and the implications of that life.

 

The crux of Christianity is “the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.” God has ordained that only a few would be apostles, eyewitnesses of Christ. He has also ordained that salvation be passed along to those who believe the accounts of these eyewitnesses, primarily Paul, Peter, and John.

 

This will forever be the battle, the spiritual struggle we encounter. Faith comes by hearing this message. It does not come from our own personal encounters with Christ, as Paul had. It comes from hearing and believing the testimony they left us in the Word of God.

 

·       That testimony is inspired by God.  

·       That testimony is preserved by God.  

·   That testimony is the power of God for salvation.  

And those who come face to face with it are never the same.

 

#PromiseOfLife  #FaithInChrist  #ApostolicTestimony  #PowerOfSalvation  #InspiredWord

The Power of Apostolic Testimony: Three Apostles Who Changed History  

• What personal experiences have you had that helped deepen your faith, and how have they transformed your life?

• Take time to witness to someone this week.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

2 Timothy 1:1 (KJV) The Power of  Testimony

1 Timothy 6:2 (KJV) Honoring God in the Workplace

1 Timothy 6:2 (KJV)

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

 

There is a contrast between verses 1 and 2.  

Verse 1 addresses the Christian whose master is an unbeliever. The testimony of the Christian is paramount so that Christ and His doctrine are not blasphemed. It can be incredibly challenging to work for an unbeliever in a world filled with unbelievers. The cursing, swearing, profane living, and, worse, the utter disrespect for our Savior is sometimes infuriating. We feel like we ought to lash out at those who lash out at our Lord and God. Who wants to work in that kind of environment? Wouldn’t we be justified in “sticking it to” those who attack our faith? I’m reminded of things I heard while working as a union ironworker, where members of the union felt it was their duty to cheat the employer whenever they could. Somehow, the company paying their wages was the bad guy simply because it had the money to pay them. We hear similar things about the government—it’s so corrupt that some people feel obligated to cheat the system whenever possible.  

 

However, God’s Word instructs the Christian to take a different approach. We are to count even unbelieving, profane masters as “worthy of all honor, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed.”

 

Verse 2 is perhaps even more challenging. Here, we have the Christian whose master is also a Christian. Since they are brothers in the Lord, shouldn’t the master give the employee a break, cut him some slack, and ease up on his responsibilities? This reminds me of the young man working for his father’s company. It’s reasonable for him to start on the lowest rung of the employee ladder—after all, he needs to learn the ropes. But, as the boss’ son, does he really have to work as hard as everyone else? After all, one day, he’ll probably be their boss. My sons experienced this early in their careers as plumbing apprentices, working alongside the owner’s sons. As a result, when my oldest son’s oldest son came of age, my boy didn’t hire him. A couple of years after my grandson went to work for a different company in a different trade, my son’s manager asked about hiring him. My son said he could, but it would be the manager’s call, and his kid would have to work for him, not for my son.  

 

It’s a blessing to work for a Christian employer—maybe even more so if the employer is a member of the same church. But that doesn’t give the employee permission to slack off at work. In fact, he ought to work even harder.

 

The point of the chapter boils down to this: Whatever state you find yourself in, be content.[1] And in that state, work to glorify God.

 

#FaithAtWork  #ChristianIntegrity  #WorkToGlorifyGod  #ContentmentInChrist  #BiblicalWorkEthic

Honoring God in the Workplace: 4 Biblical Principles for Working with Integrity  

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[1] 1 Timothy 6:2 (KJV)

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

• Are you reflecting Christ in your workplace, no matter who your employer is?

• Go into work with a renewed focus on honoring God through your actions.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

1 Timothy 6:2 (KJV) Honoring God in the Workplace