Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Commissioning
By the Risen Lord
2 Timothy 2: 1-8
Vs.19.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20. and teaching them to obey
everything that I have commanded you.
2 Timothy was Paul's last
letter, written from Nero's prison in Rome, while awaiting execution, to his
spiritual son, Timothy, exhorting Timothy to be strong in faith and steadfast
in endurance. Timothy was in Ephesus then and struggled with the feeling of
inadequacy. Paul knew that Timothy faced a lot of hardships and persecution
from outside the Church and also from false teachers within the Church. Paul
urged Timothy to guard the Gospel, preach the word, endure hardship and fulfill
his mission by preserving the faith by passing on its truths to reliable men
who would teach it to others also. Teaching others the Word of God was to
ensure the continued spreading of the Gospel. To withstand the trials we face,
rather than relying on our own strength, we have to grow stronger in our love
for God and also have to be strengthened in our faith. The Grace of God
in union with Jesus is essential for our spiritual growth. God wants devoted
disciples. Paul used the metaphors of a soldier (2 Timothy 2:3), Athlete (Vs.5)
and a Farmer (vs.6), to describe a good man of God.
Soldier: A
good soldier endures hardships. An active soldier on the frontline is a good
example of a bold person because in the frontline you can expect
suffering. A soldier has to give up everything else and be willing to die
for the cause entrusted to him. He will have to be away from his family most of
the time. He has to be focused all the time as he is on active duty 24/7;
not part-time. The enemy could attack anytime without any warning. If he is not
alert, he might get wounded or even killed. In Luke 9:23 Jesus said,
"If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget himself, take up his
cross every day, and follow me". Being a disciple, like a soldier, is a
full-time job. A disciplined soldier will not get involved in the civilian affairs,
as it is against the military rules. When we follow Jesus, we are
expected to stay away from anything that may distract us from our goal; we must
strive to please our Lord.
Athlete: An
athlete must compete according to the rules, must be disciplined, train hard
and be persistent. To win, an athlete has to participate in the race with
adequate preparation. In Heb. 12:1, we read, ".. let us run with
determination the race that lies before us". We must strive to win; not
just finishing the race. Like an athlete competes, we must be prepared to
compete against Satan in our daily lives. Just as an athlete has to follow the
rules, all the rules needed for a successful life is in the Bible.
Farmer:
A farmer has to work hard by preparing the land, sow the seeds/plant, fertilize
it, rain and sunshine needed; yet his gratification is delayed as it takes time
to harvest. We all want instant gratification, but patience is a virtue, just
like a farmer has to wait for his crop. Dedication and sacrifice are essential
for a successful farmer. In 1 Cor. 3: 7, we read, "The one who plants and
the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because He
makes the plant grow". We will have to forsake the worldly pleasures to
enjoy the everlasting joy.
PRAYER
Lord,
help us to make a commitment to be like a dedicated soldier, a disciplined
athlete and a hardworking farmer. May we be like You so that others will know
that we are Christians by our love, by our Godly deeds and actions than our
words. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
John
15:13, "The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his
life for them". As the followers of our risen Lord, this is the kind of
love that we are expected to emulate.
Alex Thomas, Atlanta MTC
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar
Thoma Church