The Same Commit Thou

09 Jul The Same Commit Thou

Last night I preached out of II Timothy 2:1-5 and focusing in on what Paul was challenging Timothy to do.  He reminded him to endure hardness as a good soldier and to strive in his walk with the Lord lawfully.  Timothy needed to please the Lord, who had chosen him to be a soldier.  But Paul also encouraged him to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and charged him to commit what he had learned “from Paul” to faithful men, who would in turn teach others.  I don’t believe Paul to be a worrier, but we do see him concerned about whether the labor he had bestowed upon people would be in vain.  I do believe it grieved his heart when those he had influence over, turned from the Lord and His Church.

Just as much as I have committed myself as a living sacrifice unto the Lord, and plan to serve Him as long as He gives me breathe, I am also committed to passing along the teaching and instruction that has been poured into me by the preachers and churches who have trained me.  I do not want any of my mentors to feel that the labor they have bestowed upon me…was in vain.  It may get tough along the way as evangelicalism creeps into our local churches, but we should “endure hardness”, we should strive lawfully, that it may please the Lord who has chosen us…and it may please those who have prayed over and for us all these years.