In 2 Timothy 2:1-7, Paul exhorts Timothy to persevere in the ministry. When he faces hardship, he needs to persevere. When he faces suffering, he needs to persevere. The gospel is worthy of our suffering. Paul used three illustrations to communicate this truth: the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer. The solider must be single minded and not be distracted by “civilian pursuits.” There are many good things we can pursue, but not all are part of our mission. The athlete must follow the rules and not take any shortcuts. Over the last 20 years, we have seen many athletes disqualified because they did not follow the rules. The farmer begins with an empty field, but with vision and faith, he keeps on planting because he is trusting God for a harvest. Read More.
