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Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Be Strong

2 Timothy 2:1-7: "1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 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. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 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. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."

A Strong Christian is:

1. A Teacher who commits, verse 2.
2. A Soldier who endures, verses 3,4.
3. An Athlete who competes, verse 5.
4. A Farmer who labours, verse 6.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

3. An Athlete who competes, verse 5.
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May I take this opportunity to relate a sporting event which demonstrates this point in life.

Bruce Jenner, an American track eventer, had just secured his fifth gold medal at the Olympics in Montreal in 1960's...I forget the year now. He was finishing his victory lap when this distance runner from one of those little unknown countries was entering the stadium. He was about five hours late arriving. He had fallen several times along the way, was bruised, battered and worn out from running. Jenner stopped what he was doing, enjoying his victory, and went to the finish line to greet this runner, shake his hand, and reportedly said to him, "You finished the course, and that is what counts." I thought it was a most magnanimous remark, considering Jenner's five gold medals. I never forgot that event, even though memory of the olympics fail me continuously.

Cheers,

Jim

R. L. Vaughn said...

I thought someone else might take a stab at it, but they didn't so I'll try.

These seems like an illustration based on Olympic-type games (some think possibly the Isthmean games at Corinth). The athletes would compete for a crown. But if they didn't "play by the rules", compete or strive lawfully, the crown would be forfeited even though they seemingly won.

I don't think we have to try to make something out of every detail of this. The main point seems to be that the soldier separates from the world to do his job, the athlete competes to the best of his ability (and by the rules), and the farmer labours wisely and saves out some of his fruit for the next crop. No less should be expected of the "Christian soldier".

Anonymous said...

When the Greeks installed the marathon run, a losing runner was often executed...it was a serious thing to run the race all out.

Glad I am a spectator!

Cheers,

Jim