Welcome to Day 3 of The Challenge! Our verse to memorize today is II Timothy 2:3:
~
"Thou therefore endure hardness,
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
~
You can’t endure hardness as a good soldier and make soft choices at the same time. A soldier is only as good as his level of discipline. Christ often asks us to do things that are not "easy."
Christ asks us to do hard things. But in the experience of this hardship emerges something phenomenal: a relationship. We let go of all that is anti-Christ and realize that we are with Christ in His sufferings. Christ both asks us to choose the way of sacrifice and passes through that way with us, feeling every pain that we feel. Loving others could mean going hungry, being insulted, or losing your life. But going through hardship together creates a bonding like no other.
You learn to love those who discipline you both because of what it spares you from and because of what you gain in the end. But I have discovered that I also have a deep respect for those who discipline me because of the character they show by doing so. I have a great desire to please, and a fear of displeasing those who love what is right and have the backbone to hold me to a high standard. I feel a sense of peace and security knowing that they will not let the standard down, and that the standard is love.
Christ is that perfect commander. Go all the way with Him and let soft choices fall by the wayside.
~ Michael Staddon
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January 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 am
Very well said, Mike! This reminds me of the famous Marines slogan, “Pain is weakness leaving the body.”
There is some truth to that because strength can result from hardship. Paul wrote that the Lord told him, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” So he concluded, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (II Cor. 12:9-10).
It also reminds me of the famous book by Alex and Brett Harris called Do Hard Things. I love what they wrote on their blog, “Our greatest joy and satisfaction comes not from avoiding hard things but from joyfully embracing them. This is how the same Jesus who said, ‘If anyone would come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me,’ could also say, ‘for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ Following in Christ’s footsteps is hard, but it’s good — and He is the ultimate example to us of an extraordinary life spent doing hard things for the glory of God.”
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:30 am
To be honest… as I have been memorizing and studying todays verse, many thoughts have been going through my head.
First, like Robert, my thoughts went towards Paul and all the sufferings (see 2 Corinthians 11:24-27)that He willingly endured so “…that the power of Christ might rest me”. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
After that, God really impressed upon me the word “endure”. The word endure means… to undergo (as a hardship) especially without giving in. God hasn’t called us to live a easy life, instead He has called each of us to live a life of no regrets and doing hard things. Personally, I like thinking about a marathon runner. A marathon runner keeps on training and running despite the deep pain of hurting muscles. Muscles can’t get stronger unless they go through the painful process of conditioning and training. Suffering and hardships, can produce strength and if we allow it. “… be strong in the grace of Christ Jesus.”
“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” ! Peter 4:13,16
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Ouch! This one hit home for me. I can’t believe how many soft choices I allow myself to make in life and this was a good reminder to evaluate what’s important and get back on track.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how difficult life is and today’s verse help to clarify some things. It doesn’t say “if” you endure hardness, but it’s a command…endure hardness, asuming that hardship WILL come. Life is hard, painful, and wearisome – what makes the difference between the way Christians and non-believers live? With Christ abiding in us, we can endure hardness and live life victoriously!
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Just FYI, the reason I put “easy” in quotations in the first paragraph is because it is really only “hard” from the perspective of the flesh. The grace God gives to do His will can make any choice an easy one, and its performance a pleasure. After all, when Jesus Christ tells you to something it is not a choice at all. So yes, there is a difference betweent the way believers and non-believers live. After knowing Christ, things that were impossible to do become a great delight.
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Amen!
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Amen is right! That was my first response after reading today’s article this morning. I can heartily agree with every phrase. I can remember some years back when I realized that some of the best people in my life were those who corrected me, because it was their correction that helped me to develop the character of Christ; and that was my desire.
My paraphrase of II Tim. 2:3 – “You, because of what you receive and are required to faithfully pass on to others, must undergo hardship as a valuable and virtuous soldier of Jesus Christ.” As I meditated on this verse, the Lord challenged me with this question, “Are you a soldier that is of worth to Me? That is worthy, priceless, and honorable? [synonyms of ‘valuable’ and ‘virtuous’]”
So many more insights flooded my mind as I meditated on this verse today. After reading the verse and Michael’s article, the first people I thought of was the Marines. Having had correspondence with a girl who recently went through Marine boot camp, I got a close look of a recruit’s life during that time! Becoming a Marine indeed has its ‘hard things.’ It’s tough, demanding, testing, and challenging. If that is what the Marines demand, how much more our Great Commander must demand of us!
How Marines respond to hardships in the midst of battle distinguishes them as Marines. How we respond to hardships in the Christian life should identify us as soldiers of Jesus Christ.
There is a great analogy between gold, Marines, and Christians. I recently was reminded of an incident in Amy Carmichael’s life. She and her “children” had gone to visit a goldsmith. As he put the gold in the crucible, he blew the fire even hotter. Amy asked him, “How do you know when the gold is pure?” He said, “When I can see my face in it, then I know that it is pure.” To become a Marine, a recruit must successfully make it through the three days of their Cruicible. Even so in our lives, God will take us through a “crucible.” As He purifies us, we will come forth as gold. (Job 23:10 “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”) Then when Christ looks at us, He should see a reflection of Himself, just like the goldsmith. Gold, recruits, and Christians must all go through a crucible. It is a ‘hard thing,’ but one with great benefits. May we all pass the test.
I really enjoyed today’s article. It was very well done. I needed that reminder to “let soft choices fall by the wayside.” Looking forward to tomorrow! Let’s keep marching loyally under His command!