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2 Timothy 2:3–4
In 2 Timothy 2:3–4 (NKJV) the Apostle Paul instructs Timothy, “3You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” A good soldier must keep his eyes on the task at hand and his focus on the mission he has been given to keep from being distracted and fall in battle. The Christian, likewise, must keep his focus on the mission given him by God and not be distracted by the sinful nature of this world.
This is a command to seek God’s will for our lives and to not allow the distractions of this world to overcome our focus on the task God has given us.
You may question if God has actually given you personally a task or mission to complete in this physical earthly life. There are some simple Bible verses that will help us all find and realize our calling from God. The Bible teaches us in Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” The Apostle Peter declares in 1 Peter 4:8 as he quotes Proverbs 10:12 and also reflects the words of Jesus in John 13:34-35, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’” Jesus gave instruction in Matthew 22:37–40 to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to have a love for others that equals the desires we have in taking care of ourselves.
To accomplish these things, we must endure hardships in this world, as soldiers in battle. We cannot do it alone, but through prayer and thanksgiving to God as He will guard our hearts and minds through our salvation in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4–7).
Dear LORD,
Please help us all to realize and understand that we all have a mission given to put You first in our lives and then to show the love that You have shown to us to others. You gave Your One and only Son to pay our price for sin; please give us all hearts, minds, and souls to dedicate our lives to You and to show Your love through us to others – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.