via TJC
“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
—2 Timothy 4:5
Let’s see… I’m looking through the Scripture above, and I’m not seeing anything exciting or fun. What am I missing? What’s my motivation? How can I be sure this is worth it?
Have those thoughts crossed your mind in your walk along the ancient path? If they haven’t… you’re weird.
If you’ve never stood before God and been confused… if you’ve never stood before God and been angry… if you’ve never stood before God and felt inadequate… then you’re worshiping an idol.
You see, like it or not, in the midst of all God promises us in the here & now, things like fun, comfort, and the “easy life” are not a given. In fact, the more you seek His pleasure and His counsel, the more difficult it will get. One needs only to look at the fates of the Apostles to see that.
So what am I saying? Paul puts it this way: “If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him. If we endure, we will also reign with Him. He cannot deny Himself.”
Remember, Paul is writing this from jail just prior to his execution. This says to me the love, the joy, the assurance, the reward can all be experienced in only one place: in His presence. Love Jesus—He indeed loves you back. Be faithful to Him because He is always faithful to you. Give of yourself to Him because He already gave everything to you, so much so that even in our suffering there is great joy in the here & now as well as in the hereafter.
DAILY BATTLE ORDER
“As for you”, serve God today with a joyful heart, resting in His assurance that He will be faithful to get you home.
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