(2Ti 2:10) “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”  Why endure? He has told us that working for God is not in vain, the Word is not bound. I add these motivations: 1. His devotion to He Who forgave his past and saved his soul; 2. Paul was given a purpose in life to be fulfilled; and 3. The Holy Spirit gave him the ability to “love thy neighbor as thyself”. We each have those same motivations in common with Paul!  

(2Ti 2:9) “Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.”  The world as a whole has rejected God’s Word, moving it into greater and greater darkness. As a result, their distorted perception sees evil as good and good as evil. They will seek more and more to limit the speaking of Bible Truth. Do not let it frighten you. Give forth the Word more and more, for…….”…the Word of God is not (and cannot be) bound.”    

(2Ti 2:8) “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:”  This says three things to Timothy and to you and me. One: Jesus’ resurrections says, “You have the power within you (the Holy Spirit) to live for Jesus through whatever comes.” Two: praise God this life is short and our own resurrection is  near. And three: we will have to give account of this life to the One Who purchased our salvation face to face.   

(2Ti 2:7) “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.”  “Consider”: think upon”; meditate; give God’s Word careful thought. What will be the result? If you are seeking His face, “…the Lord give thee understanding….”, He will bless you. “In all things”, of that which you are reading while seeking to please Him! Blessed promises to those who love Him enough to sit before Him with an open Bible!  

(2Ti 2:6) “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”  Any person who seeks to serve the Lord must first know the Lord, been a “partaker of the fruits”: (Rom 2:21) “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?…”  This also means one must practice the Word before one teaches the Word.

(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?