Tuesday 9th January
Read 2 Timothy 2:3-4
“Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” (NIVUK)
Paul was more familiar with Roman soldiers than we think, after all he has appealed to them for safety, been arrested by them and then imprisoned by them on many, many occasions. Paul had plenty of time to observe them. There are two things he wants to remind Timothy of and exhort him to reflect on (v7).
First, their willingness to suffer. When on campaign the Roman soldier expected privation and suffering and the risk of death or wounding was obviously high. So too, the work of one prepared to guard the gospel involves similar privation and suffering (cf 2 Corinthians 11). Serving Jesus is not a pampered retreat.
Second, Timothy needs to beware of getting ‘entangled’ (v4). But a soldier foregoes normal life to serve. No tax returns to fill in, family responsibilities to meet, repairs on the roof, day job to distract him. He is on campaign so he needs to concentrate on his equipment, his health and his skills to serve and fight. There is a single, simple focus to his daily existence.
How does that translate to our lives? John Stott suggests that there may be things we do that are ‘perfectly innocent in themselves’ but may distract us from serving Jesus. Whilst we may not be ‘ministers of the word and prayer’ like Paul was exhorting Timothy to pursue, and ‘civilian affairs’ make up much of our daily existence, are there things we do that may distract us? What does a ‘wartime footing’ look like – disciplined and difficult.
