THE GOAL - 2Timothy 2:4-7
Rebecca Lightfoot
In 2Timothy2:4-7,Paul gives 3 examples for young Timothy to draw wisdom from that have Eternal significance for life->”No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer.Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown except by competing according to the rules.The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.Reflect on what I am saying, for the LORD will give you insight into all this.”The 1st example is a faithful soldier that is so convinced of the righteousness of his/her commanding officer...so much so that his TRUST in the commanding officer impacts the desires of his/her mind/heart/life so that the decisions and life choices he/she makes are in obedience to the commanding officer,& away from pleasing any other influence.Then Paul offers the example of an athlete that must’ve sought to know what he/she was created to be/what “events” he/she is gifted to invest their mind/heart/life in pursuing->(Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.).This athlete that seeks to know his/her calling will desire to compete fairly/according to the rules of the event...so he/she will become a student of the rule book and train accordingly while steadfastly focusing on THE GOAL!Next is a hard working farmer that diligently takes care of what has been planted....he/she will make sure to properly water & nourish the seed that has been planted,& then regularly remove the weeds from among the growing plants.Then Paul says,”Reflect on what I am saying, for the LORD will give you insight into all this”!This is Paul telling Timothy to purposefully ponder all of these things regularly,while seeking to know what the Lord is saying to him and teaching him through the life disciplines that adhere to these examples.Whether we acknowledge it or not,the disciplines(or lack of) that we apply to our mind/heart/life will ETERNALLY impact of our life and what we ultimately become!Dear Lord,I need Your help in turning my mind/heart/life to purposefully ponder things as these verses teach...and make the course adjustments in my mind/heart/life needed to stay a course true to the GOAL that is the only ONE of ETERNAL significance!