How to Endure Matthew Clifton-Brown
We will all face serious challenges to our faith, like both Paul and Timothy did. God promises to help us through these times as we trust and obey Him.
2 Timothy 4:5
The Bible uses lots of images to describe Christian but "soldier" is one of the recurrent ideas Paul uses. Why? Because Christians can expect to face serious challenges, as Jesus Himself showed us. The Christian life isn't like a battle, it is a battle. Realising this is important or we'll get confused when things are difficult.
Paul suffered a lot (2 Timothy 3:11, 2 Corinthians 11:24-28) so he was able to encourage Timothy from personal experience. It can seem hard to relate to, because it's so extreme - but all of us face challenges that we need to endure through. Joni Eareckson Tada's story is an inspiring example of what God can do through someone whose live involves enduring over a long period of time.
Christians need to be soft-hearted but thick-skinned. The only way this happens is if we respond to God in times of trials in the right way.
Being a faithful witness to Jesus requires endurance, especially as we face and experience mockery. This is the deal for all of us, as 2 Timothy 3:12. Paul had known many Christians who had fallen away and abandoned him (2 Timothy 3:15). We can’t assume that we'll persevere. One-off exploits are much easier to achieve than enduring long-term unseen challenges. God often tests us through these things to grow us in patience, making us more like His Son. Endurance is the great sorter-outer, proving what is genuine rather than what appears impressive.
We mustn't sit in judgement about what constitutes genuine hardship and what should be just "got over" (by other people). God knows what each of is facing, sympathises and encourages us.
Paul gives four commands to Timothy:
1. Keep your head in all situations.
Or, be sober in all things. Don't be taken in by the hype, which is all around us, trying to persuade us to panic. Think things through carefully, be calm and peaceful and make decisions based on settled faith. In a changing world, this is essential, and leaders especially need to think this way.
2. Endure hardship.
God will help you in all circumstances. We need to be experts in drawing on His grace (see Hebrews 12). Weariness or fainthearted are the risks we face.
3. Do the work of an evangelist.
Don't let anything stop you from declaring the word of God - the good news of Jesus and the futility of life without Him. It's much easier to let this slide, and we might even see going through hardship as an excuse for not doing it. It's interesting that this is what Paul chooses to focus on rather than worship or social action or spiritual gifts.
4. Discharge all the duties of your ministry / fulfil what God's called you to do.
Don't give up, or dial down. When you die, don't have regrets about things you didn't do for God - have the satisfaction of a job fully done. God has purposes in your life - things He still has for you to do. We believe that our Chosen for Purpose conference on Saturday 20th May will help you work out what this is.
Questions
- What temptations do we face when we're enduring hard (or boring) times?
- Why is it great news for us that Jesus had endured hardship?
- Matthew said that Christians need to “soft-hearted but thick-skinned” – if you agree with him, what might this look like?
- How do we become "experts in drawing on God's grace"?
- Which of Paul's four commands to Timothy are most urgent for you right now? How can you achieve them?