2 Timothy 2:1-7 has been the topic of our Thursday morning men's group. In this letter, Paul is challenging Timothy to "endure hardships like a good soldier." Good soldiers endure difficulties with their head up. Good soldiers do not quit as a result of hardships. Despite all of the hard things that life can throw at us, Paul & Timothy suffered as a result of their passion for the name and purpose of Jesus Christ. I believe that we often face less glamorous stages of hardship before we are challenged with the degree of suffering that Paul is referring to. These guys faced hunger, sleepless nights, beatings, rejection, and slander due to their relentless persistence in kingdom work. Despite the degree of difficulty that we may or may not be facing at this time, consider those experiences as opportunities for growth and maturity. Even good soldiers receive some hard training on the peaceful soil of their homeland before facing the roar of a lion.
