July 2, 2014

THE CALL TO MAKE DISCIPLES

2 Timothy 2:1–13

Ben Caldwell
Wednesday's Devo

July 2, 2014

Wednesday's Devo

July 2, 2014

Central Truth

Life is too short to allow the busyness of everyday life to distract us from God's call for all Christians to be disciple makers.

Key Verse | 2 Timothy 2:2

[A]nd what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)

2 Timothy 2:1–13

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, 1 2:2 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women, depending on the context who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12  if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13  if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.

Footnotes

[1] 2:2 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women, depending on the context

Dive Deeper | 2 Timothy 2:1–13

The older I get, the more things I find competing for my time, attention, and affections. At times, it is tempting to believe that I carry a heavy load, certainly heavier than most. At least that's what I tell myself. Life feels like a bunch of "have to's" over which I have little control. Cue the self-righteous, burden-bearing attitude and weariness. Can anyone relate?

Sadly, what feels so true is actually a mix of pride and refusal to take responsibility for the priorities to which I have chosen to submit my heart and my schedule. When I remember that time is a gift from the Lord and I am responsible for how I use it (Ephesians 5:15-16), I am forced to allow the light of God's Word to shine on my life and priorities.

In this passage we find ourselves in the middle of what was likely Paul's last letter, written from jail in Rome, to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith. Paul knows his days are limited (2 Timothy 4:6-7). So his words are heartfelt, and he wastes no time reminding Timothy of what is most important: namely, taking the truths that Timothy had learned from Paul and entrusting them to faithful men who would be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2).

If the church was to survive and if the life-giving message of Christ was to go on, there would be no other means. Paul understood that God's plan to deliver the world from sin and death through His Son was dependent on men and women purposing to entrust to others what someone first entrusted to them. Jesus said it this way, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

Paul made disciples because he deeply loved God and he genuinely loved people. If I am honest, I often love myself a whole lot, and how I spend my life reflects it. Paul's words remind and redirect me to spend my life so that others can have life in Christ.

Discussion Questions

1. What priorities are you submitting your heart and your schedule to? Are there any specific ways you believe God desires for you to shift your priorities to align them with His?

2. What most hinders you from being a disciple maker (busyness, self-focus, feeling ill-equipped, fear of failure, etc.)? What step of faith could you take today to begin overcoming that obstacle?

3. Who could you thank today for the impact they have had on your relationship with Christ?