(2Ti 2:5) “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”  The Lord is using the physical (what men naturally understand) to teach us the spiritual. Men set rules for they know fallen man will cheat or take the easy way to success. There is no short cut to spirituality or service to the Lord. It must be through salvation first and then humble submission to the Holy Spirit. Bow before our Great God and Savior! Serve Him!

(2Ti 2:4) “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”    Friend, we cannot ever overlook the motivation behind the sacrifice of turning out backs upon this world, the motivation for getting into the fight. The motivation is to “please Him”, our Lord and Savior. He Who we love for His sacrifice. Keep ever before you – He suffered Calvary because of you; not  your neighbor, not your fellow Believer – for you. Remember the ninety and nine (Matt 18:11-14).

(2Ti 2:4) “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”   Entanglement with this life.  Witnessed as a pastor: camping while their church fights the battle; motorcycle safety class while their church fights the battle; family reunion while their church fights the battle; cooking the family meal while their church fights the battle; football while their church fights the battle; little league or soccer while their church fights the battle.

(2Ti 2:4) “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”  What entanglements? Anything that puts you and your desires first before the Lord. Being faithful to the Lord is to be our first priority; not self, not family, not work, not health. He is to come first before all other things. Proof: Jesus said, (Mat 10:37) “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (38)  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (39)  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”   

 (2Ti 2:3) “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”  Every saved person has noticed living for the Lord is hard. We are grieved by the sinfulness of the world around us. We are belittled by those who live in opposition to God. We struggle against self and past input into our minds. We have been brought to the understanding that there is a spiritual war around all around us. We either fight the fight or side with the enemy. What has your choice been thus far? Do you need to repent?  

(2Ti 2:2) “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”  As you sit at the feet of Jesus daily, whether it be through reading or the teaching of another, it is not yours only. It is to be shared. Live this life for others. Let that be shown in our conversations (speaking God’s Word) as well as our actions.

(2Ti 2:1) “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”  This little verse is actually full of a great spiritual truth: no matter who you are, you have no spiritual strength in your own person, through your own force of will. “Grace” means “favor given but not deserved”. This spiritual strength making one strong comes from another source – the Holy Spirit Who lives within each of the truly saved. So, in order to “be strong” one must submit one’s self to Him!

(2Ti 1:14) “That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”  The “good thing” is not the Gift of Salvation, but that which is to come “through” and “because” of the Gift of Salvation. The Holy Spirit empowers us to grow spiritually and to share that which is received. Thus, “keep” means “perform, do”. Don’t just sit there as one who is lost; seek to grow and share, truly saved brother/sister, else salvation has been wasted upon your soul!

(2Ti 1:13) “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”   Love born out of thankfulness for the sufferings Jesus endured for me on the cross, stirs my heart not only to faithfully search the pages of Scripture, but also to hold firmly to them! That love says to my heart, “Don’t let them go. Don’t waver from standing upon them for anyone – anyone!”  

(2Ti 1:13) “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”  “Sound” as if in “firm, solid”.  Every Word of the Bible can be trusted fully (thus ‘in faith”). You can trust “a soft answer turneth away wrath” to “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over”. It is all true. So, grab hold and practice it!