The Strong Servant of Christ - January 18th, 2026

Why don't we take our Bibles now, if you have a copy of God's word and turn with me to 2 Timothy chapter 2. And today we're going to look at verses 3 to 7 together, okay? 2 Timothy chapter 2, verses 3 to 7. I do have the copy of the NASB 95. And so I'm just going to read this for us here. I know there's the LSB up there, but I'm going to read from the NASB, okay. Let me read this for us, and I'll pray and we'll get right to the sermon. Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Let's pray. Lord, we come before you now as we have opened your word. And we ask, Lord, that you are, as you are the chief shepherd of your church, that you would feed us with your word, that you would lead us to yourself and a greater understanding of Christ and the gospel, so that our strength would come from him. And that Lord, we would desire all the more to be faithful to him, to live lives for him and his glory in all the places that you have placed us in. Strengthen our time today. Would it be all used for your glory and for our good?

We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Now in the New Testament, there are various times where the Christian life is compared with this imagery of running a race. And it's good illustration because as many of you know, just like a race, the Christian life is not very easy. We can start out strong, we can falter a little bit, we can stumble in many ways. And again, in many ways, uh running a race demands perseverance and strength in order to cross the finish line. And that's the aim. And just like a race in our Christian lives, faithfulness to get to the finish line is gonna be tested. Yes, our salvation is by grace through faith alone. But if we have been saved through the gospel, there is no way that can make us passive.

But rather, as this life we are living in, is filled with difficulties and struggles. The Christian life needs to be marked with faithfulness. And we're gonna need strength in order to finish this race that God has given us. Maybe some of us we ran in a race before. Maybe again, you had this early uh resolution of 2026. I'm gonna run every day. And maybe some of you have already given up. Uh that can happen, right? I remember I was in track uh in high school, I was a hurdler, and I remember I had a friend who just gave up in the middle of a race. And we asked him, why'd you give up? And he's like, I didn't want to lose. I'm like, okay, that makes no sense. Well, you just lost. But he was embarrassed of losing from the other opponent.

So he faked his injury. So a lot of us, again, we can start out strong, but a lot of times we find ourselves giving up. And again, we need strength to finish what we've started. And in the same way, in the Christian life, we need strength to persevere until the end. There's no way we can just veer off in this race. There's no way we can say we can just give up and say we're embarrassed. If we're gonna be faithful to Christ, if we are believers, we must be faithful till the end. In fact, scripture says, if you are not faithful to the end, uh more likely than not, you are not a believer to begin with. 1 John 2.19 is very clear of that. That if they were of us, they would have stayed with us. But they went out from us so that it's proven that they were never of us.

So we have to be faithful. We need strength. And perhaps for some of us, when we think about things like this, it's difficult to really even think about because for some of us we want to be faithful, but there are times where we are very weak. Maybe some of us we are feeling inadequate in a certain season of life, maybe discouraged at a certain kind of sin or circumstance. Maybe some of us were distracted by comparing ourselves to others and thinking to ourselves, why can't I be like them? Why am I like me and the way I am? And so the question I want to begin with today is in these moments of struggles and weaknesses, where do we find strength? Well, we come to a passage here in 2 Timothy, and we find a man who is also not in a time of strength, but weakness.

In fact, he was in a time of great discouragement from ministry. Things were not turning out the way he thought they would be.

People started attacking him and his character and even his age, saying he's too young. And so he faced a lot of battles in ministry. And also there were threats on top of that on the outside where persecution was coming. And so this is precisely why the apostle Paul writes this epistle to this weak brother. And it's interesting because Paul himself, from the outset looks like he is weak as well, because he's also suffering difficulties. Paul is imprisoned while writing this, awaiting his execution. He's about to get beheaded right now. And he writes to young Timothy, it's okay. You need to be faithful to Christ and be faithful to Christ till the very end. But where, Timothy, must you find strength?

As you and I know, the world will say all kinds of things when it comes to strength. They'll say, find strength within. You can do it. Be motivated, do the best you can do, be the best version of yourself. Focus on the positives in your life. But here we see something different. In order to stay faithful, in fact, notice what Paul tells Timothy in verse 1 of chapter 2, so a few verses before, and we find the very key to finding strength for weak Christians. It says, you therefore, meaning you, Timothy, in light of all that you're facing. Therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the verb used here is a passive present imperative, and just really it just means a better translation of this would be be continually strengthened in the grace that's offered in Jesus Christ.

In other words, strength is not gonna come within.

If you're a Christian. If we want to be faithful to Christ, strength comes from Jesus Christ. It comes from the grace that he gives, and he is the one who sustains his people. And that is so key, friends, because speaking of being strong, friends, this is what we must acknowledge. That apart from Christ, apart from his grace, we are weak. Right. Apart from him, John 15 says, we can do nothing. So anything when it comes to living for the Lord, we are powerless in and of ourselves. And isn't that amazing, friends? Because while the world might say it's all about you and your strength, the gospel is about Jesus and finding strength in him. 2 Corinthians 12, 9, Paul says, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.

And then he later says, For when I am weak, I am strong. And so, how does that make sense? How is it that I am strong when I am weak? Well, it's because when I'm weak, I am now dependent upon the strength of Jesus Christ. And maybe you're wondering now, if I'm dependent on him, does that mean then I'm passive? I just don't do anything. Of course not. And this is where we find ourselves in our passage today. As Paul already told Timothy, find strength in Christ, but now he gives exhortations on how we can live out that life of strength in Christ. Or he pictures for us what it looks like to be strong servants of Jesus Christ while being dependent upon Jesus Christ. And he gives us three pictures and analogies here.

And we're going to go through that one by one. So that's going to be our outline for today. We're going to see three pictures and analogies of what it looks like to be a strong servant of Jesus Christ. Let's turn to the first picture now. The first picture we see here is the strong servant of Christ must be perseverant like a soldier. He is perseverant like a soldier. Let's look now at verse 3. Paul says this. Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Now the image of soldier is something that Paul often uses in the New Testament. It's one that he clearly loves, and I do believe it helps us to understand what is expected for those who serve the Lord Jesus Christ. For example, in 1 Timothy 1.18, he told Timothy to fight the good fight of faith.

It was in Ephesians 6, he also talks about spiritual armor because of this warfare. In some of his epistles, he calls other workmen, other faithful believers as fellow soldiers. Again, this imagery of soldier is a favorite of Paul's, and I do believe it's because there's so much to draw out from this imagery on faithfulness. But in our passage today, he used the imagery of soldier to talk about the reality of suffering. The reality is being a soldier is not easy. In fact, I've never been a soldier before, but I have friends who've been in the military, in the Marine Corps, and all of them say it is hard, right? No one says, oh, it was so easy. In fact, if someone says that, we're like, were you in the military?

That makes no sense for you to say it was a breeze. Why? Because in the military, there's intense training, there's physical and mental exhaustion, there's this the difficulties of combat, there's threats of injuries and even death. And so suffering, technically, when it comes to a soldier, it's it's part of the job. But when suffering comes, what is it that the strong soldier does? What allows him to stay the course and not give up? Look at verse 4. He says, No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Now, first, let's think through this together. When a soldier is in active service during warfare, there's no such thing as a soldier being able to clock out, right?

Like nine to five. It's not like having a normal job. But rather, when you're an active duty, uh you are a soldier 24-7. Commentator writes regarding the soldier, quote, his body, his health, his skills, his time, all that he is, belong to the military in which he serves. Even when on leave, he is subject to recall at any time, without notice and for any reason. And whenever ordered into dangerous duty, he is expected to put his very life on the line without question or hesitation. The point being, an active soldier requires commitment and dedication, which is why a committed soldier is not gonna entangle himself in the affairs of everyday life. If anything, he is concerned about one thing.

It says at the end of verse 4 that is pleasing the one who enlisted him. That is the picture presented here in this passage. Now, the question then is what is Paul trying to say here? And how does this help us in understanding what it means to be a strong servant of Christ? Well, it's worth noting that some people believe that Paul, by saying this, is saying that if we're gonna be faithful servants of Jesus, we need to dedicate everything to the Lord. Meaning things like marriage, having kids, having a better job, uh, maybe things like hobbies, right? Sports. They all need to go out the door. Whatever ambition you have, whatever leisure you like, they all need to go out the door. Why get mixed up with all these things when you want to be faithful to Jesus Christ?

Some people will say that. But beloved, is that what Paul is saying here? No, in fact, scripture talks about marriage and children being a gift from the Lord. Paul talks about work even in his own life, where he was not just a minister, but he was also a tent maker. So work is something that is good. Paul also enjoyed life. I do believe he was not a boring person. In fact, he was joyful even in prison. That's how joyful he was. He enjoyed friends. He enjoyed the church. He enjoyed the great blessings that God had given him. So what is this passage saying? Well, the key in understanding this verse is the context in verse 3. Let's look there again. Paul here is talking about suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

So if I couldn't put it very simply for you, what he is saying here is when it comes to suffering as a soldier, the strong soldier doesn't allow suffering to make him run away. It doesn't cause him to throw him off and go into something else. Right? That doesn't make sense. The strong soldier does not remove himself from his line of duty and run towards other matters when things come. But rather, because he is strong, in that suffering, he perseveres.

So Paul's not saying here, go and get rid of your job, go and get rid of your hobbies, but rather he's saying, in your commitment to Jesus, when suffering comes, don't abandon him. Don't consume yourself with everyday matters. When suffering and difficulty comes, don't retreat. No, persevere through it and stay faithful. I know a lot of times for Christians, we can have that feeling of wanting to give up, right? I know, I know mothers, young mothers can go through this cycle of I just can't do this anymore. We get so tired. What Paul is trying to encourage here is endure, persevere. This is what God has called you to. Don't retreat. And this reminds me when Jesus said in Luke 9, 62, when it comes to following him, he says, no one after putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.

Meaning we have to be committed to Christ in all the areas that God has placed us. And why do we do this, friends? Why go through all the hardship? Why do we persevere? Why do we endure? Well, it tells us here in verse 4. It's in order to please the one who's enlisted us. And this is speaking of who, friends? It's to please God. That's all that matters, friends. That God would be pleased. That God would be glorified. You know, the reality is, as believers, it's easy to forget our new life in Christ, right? Especially when suffering comes, when we're not feeling content, we just forget God's goodness to us in even calling us to himself. And it's in these low moments where we don't necessarily turn to the things of the Lord.

We turn to other things. We get distracted. We'd rather turn to YouTube, social media, to friends, to our next job, to the next relationship. Paul is saying here, that can't be. Don't retreat. In fact, consider Christ. Consider the God who enlisted you to his army, in a sense, right? Who adopted you into his family. When you were lost in your sins, when you were dead and on a pathway to destruction, it is him who saved you for himself. And Paul is trying to highlight here the grace of God and enlisting us to himself. That he would give us new life in Christ, that our greatest problem of sin and of death is now dealt with. That we have new life. And he's given us a purpose to live for him and his glory.

You see, God in his kindness has not only adopted us into his family as sons, but he's by his grace has enlisted us to do the things he has called us to do through his word. And I love that because it shows that God has given us this privilege to not only know him and love him, but part of a Christian life means I now live and am able to do the things he calls me to do. We are his soldiers. The point is clear, if we want to be faithful to Christ with our life, if we want to be faithful to Christ until the very end, we need to remember that very truth. That we have the privilege of being a child of God and a soldier for Christ. And so despite the trials that might come and persecutions, we don't retreat.

We don't neglect Christ in the gospel. No, we look to Christ and we persevere like the soldier. But not only must the strong servant of Christ be perseverant like the soldier, we now turn to the second picture. And that is the strong servant of Christ must also be compliant like the athlete. Compliant like the athlete. That is our second point. Let's look at verse 5 now. Paul says also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. Now, a few months ago, one of the great joys for me was I got to watch the Dodgers win the World Series, game seven with my whole family. I hope everyone was happy about that. I don't think Stephen was happy about that.

Barry a hater. But we went crazy when they won. The kids were jumping up and down. You, my three-year-old was like, she didn't know what was going on. She just was jumping up and down. But as much as I enjoyed watching the world series with my children, it was still a lot of work. In fact, I found myself at the end of the night with my voice gone, not just from screaming, but also because I had to explain to them everything, right? I had to explain all the rules for them to enjoy the game. For example, what is a home run? What is a foul ball? What is a ball, what's a strike, what's a bunt, uh, what's a pot fly? All of these things. And even the nine innings, right? And extra time, whatever it is, I had to explain these rules to them.

And don't get me wrong, I enjoyed explaining those things, but it was exhausting. But I realized it was worth it because as I explained it to them in the whole game, um, they started to enjoy it more and more, right? When they saw a full count, right? Three balls, two strikes. It got them at the edge of their seats, right? Their heart was pounding. And again, this is what rules are, right? Rules are important for anything. Um, and it not only is it important to win the prize, but also to enjoy the whole process. And the reality is every athlete knows this. In order to win the prize, whether in any sport, the athlete must compete according to the rules. And it doesn't matter how talented you are, right?

You can be the strongest dude on steroids, right? But if you don't know the rules, you lose. You're disqualified. There is no shot at winning anything if you don't know the rules. In fact, when Paul mentions this imagery of an athlete competing according to the rules, this was a metaphor that would have resonated well with the readers. In fact, during this time of the Roman Empire, there were these athletic contests that were held in Greece. And these contests included horse and chariot racing, gymnastics, wrestling, boxing, and running. And so these contests were extremely popular. In fact, it's said among commentators that Paul must have gone to some of these contests. So it shows, again, he must have enjoyed some sports here.

And Paul therefore uses a lot of times this imagery of athlete as well as soldier. And the most notable being 1 Corinthians 9. Go to 1 Corinthians 9 with me real quick. Keep your fingers in 2 Timothy. But 1 Corinthians 9, verse 24 to 27. And notice all these imageries of the sports world, the athlete. And he compares this to the Christian life. 1 Corinthians 9, verse 24 says this. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize. Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we and imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way as not without aim.

I box in such a way as not beating the air, but I discipline my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. You see that there? So go back to our passage today. And Paul uses that metaphor to once again talk about the importance of obeying or being compliant to the rules. In fact, in all these contests, not only were there strict rules for the game itself, but there were also rules that had to be followed before the game in order to qualify, to compete. For example, each contestant needed to complete a required 10-month rigorous training period. There were strenuous rules to follow. And if you didn't follow those rules, and if you cheated your way, you were disqualified.

You can't compete.

Why does he bring up this imagery? Well, just like the athlete who must be compliant or obedient to the rules in order to win the prize, the strong servant of Jesus must be compliant to the rules God has given him. And to not be compliant to the rules is to be unfaithful and even in many cases disqualified. Listen, I've known so many people who are gifted, right? People might be gifted in preaching and teaching, in relationships. But because they did not comply to the rules, they are unfaithful now and unfit to serve. And what then are the rules that Paul is talking about here? What rules are his servants to follow? Well, beloved, I think it's pretty clear. It's through his what? His word. And listen, as believers, we don't just figure out our Christian faith on our own.

We don't just go about saying, okay, I'm saved, I'm gonna figure this out and go about how I feel is right in this situation. What I think is fit for this situation. No, if we are Christ, I need to be led by him in every area. I don't separate Christ from my work. I don't separate Christ from my family. No, it's Christ in my work, Christ in my family, Christ in my hobbies, everything's about Christ, and I want to be faithful in obeying his word. It's in his word, God not only reveals his characters and his attributes and his plan and his promises, but he also provides for us instruction and commandments to obey him. And listen, you need to obey his commands regardless of your circumstance. And that's that's really hard to say, right?

Because I think often when we're having difficulties in life, we we don't want to look to his word. We don't want to obey. In fact, it could have been tempting for believers even at this time to compromise their faith, right? To take some shortcuts, to cheat their way to the finish line, to feel like, okay, I'm going through suffering, so I can avoid obedience right now. That I am justified for some sin. Again, I know for some people, when it's suffering time, these are the times where they just don't want to obey. They don't want to read his word, they don't want to be in prayer, they don't want to be in the fellowship of the church, they don't want to forgive, they don't want to love, they don't want to serve, they don't want to obey.

And Paul is saying here, that can't be if you're gonna be faithful until the end. We recognize, if anything, that in whatever season of life, God's rules are good for us. They're not burdensome to us. They're good because they come from a good and gracious God. And that's something that again we have to humbly receive and admit that God's word is good and he is working all things for our good and for his glory. I know, for example, I even when I get into some fights with my wife, because I do fire sometimes. I'm not perfect. I don't want to obey his word, right? I don't want to love her like Christ loved the church. But it's in those moments I I need to abide in it, right? His word is good.

And praise God that when I do it, there's a blessedness that comes from it. So, church, ask yourself today, how has your commitment been to the word of God? Is reading his word a priority in your life? Are you committed to obey it, not just know it? Are you committed to his word even in the midst of difficulties? This is what it means to be faithful till the end. My goal and my desire is to know his word and to obey his word until I see him face to face. And beloved, it's only then you'll receive the prize. It's only then you won't be disqualified. And if you think about it, friends, that's how Paul's life was, right? Uh Paul's life as he suffered for the sake of the gospel was faithful to his word.

Which is why Paul, even right now, as he's about to be beheaded in prison, he wasn't wavering. In fact, turn with me to 2 Timothy chapter 4, two chapters after, in verse 7 to 8.

Notice what he says here, and yet this is before his death. He says, I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course, meaning I finished the race. I have kept the faith. You know what that means, friends? I've kept the faith. I have been faithful to Christ and His word. In the future, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. Isn't that amazing? As Paul served, Paul in a sense saw himself as an athlete running a race. And he was faithful in running the race well because he was running according to the rules. Regardless of whatever happened, regardless of where he was, he was going with God's word.

And what he awaits now is not a physical and a perishable wreath, like in the contest, but a crown of righteousness that Christ himself will award to him on that day. And that must be our prayer as well, to be strong servants of Christ who are obedient to his word. But third and finally, not only must we be perseverant like the soldier and compliant like the athlete, but the strong servant of Christ must also be hard working like the farmer. Hard working like the farmer. That is the third image here. Look now at verse 6. He says, the hard working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. You know, farming is an interesting thing, right? Because as you and I know, uh, living in 2026, everything is so advanced, right?

I mean, you got self-driving cars all over LA right now in our men's group. We talked about chat GPT and AI recently, and it's just crazy. I mean, I feel so old school now. Um, even thinking about this, right? And thinking about my children, what they're gonna have. It's crazy all these advancements we see in the world today. But farming is interesting because despite it being 2026, farming is old school, right? It's super old school. In fact, farming has existed since creation, technically, right? Since creation, thousands of years have passed, but farming is always hard. Go to a farmer also and be like, is it easy? They'll be like, no. And their face will be brown, like because from the sun, right?

In fact, I can speak uh more personally on this. My dad actually used to own a farm, a Juju B farm, so uh uh dates, right? So he had this little farm, and I would go and help, and um it was hard. I mean, it was really, really hard. In fact, uh, not only do you have to wake up early in the morning, you have to uh you have to you have to dig the ground, you have to make sure everything's good, and you also make sure all these birds and these uh these squirrels and the rabbits are not just coming and eating all the produce, right? And so it's a lot of hard work. But moreover, I do believe farmers especially experience disappointments, right? Disappointments, because sometimes it doesn't go the way you you thought.

Uh you do all this work, and sometimes it doesn't come out, and you're just like, what's going on? Farmers also have difficulty because despite the hard work, they also have to be patient. Uh patient in order for the fruits to come out, it's amazing. And farming, you are very much dependent upon God, if you think about it. You're dependent upon God who gives the sun, who gives the rain, he provides the oxygen and the wind, and he is the one who causes the growth of the plants. That requires a lot of patience because the farmer's job is not to grow plants, if you think about it. He doesn't go to the plant and stretch it out, right? I'm gonna grow you. But rather, what does he do? He does the work necessary that God has ordained, and God is the one who grows it.

What is Paul saying here when it comes to serving Christ? Well, just as farming is hard work, laboring for Christ is hard work as well. In fact, in the Greek, hard working is in the emphatic position here, so it's in the front of this verse to emphasize hard work. Hard work. In fact, consider some of the things that are required in faithful ministry, whether it's caring, counseling, shepherding, preparing, preaching, teaching, evangelizing, praying, there's also planning, leading, protecting, evaluating. On top of that, there's a need to be faithful even privately in my life, in my family's life. And I know I just described a lot of pastoral ministry here, but beloved, even in a in a normal member's life in the church, you know that even as a layperson ministering to God and living for God's kingdom is hard work.

It requires determination. You can't be lazy and passive in the Christian life. And so if we're gonna be faithful to Christ till the end, hard work is what God has ordained for us. Hard work and being faithful in the areas God has placed us in. And that's the privilege for us, is it not? We're not saved so that we can live as we please. We're saved to now live for God. To work for God. So even that imagery of a mom changing diapers. That's such a precious picture. Because even in that, I am living for God. Whatever job I have, it's about God. And like earlier, like pleasing him, like the soldier, right? Who pleases the one who enlisted him.

When we consider salvation, friends, I think for some of us, when we think about our sanctification, we often think simply about being set apart from the things of this world. Like I need to get away from worldly things. But we often forget the truth that we are also set apart for the things of God. That's part of our lives as believers, our sanctification, that now I can use my life for the work of ministry, for the work of God glorifying activities and purposes. And just like the farmer who's not in control of the growth of the crops, and is utterly dependent upon the Lord to grow those things, we too are also utterly dependent upon the Lord as we seek to be faithful in these areas of our lives.

As servants of Christ, our job is not to save anyone, nor is it to grow or sanctify anyone. It's not even our job to grow the ministry. Why? Because we can't.

But we're powerless in any of these things. We're not in control of results, but our job is simply to be what? Faithful, to do the work necessary. And God is the one who will cause the growth. That's why Paul says in Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 3, 5 to 7, you don't have to turn there, but when speaking of his ministry along with Apollos, he says, What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believe, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one, I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. And so despite the hard work necessary in ministry, here is the promise here in this passage.

That just as the hardworking farmer will be the first to receive his share of the crops, the hardworking servant of Christ will also be the first to receive his reward from God. And I believe what Paul is referring to here is not an earthly reward like prosperity or some physical reward, like the here and now of getting the things we want. But the reward he's talking about here is when we stand before Christ in the judgment seat of Christ. When Christ will reward the faithful on that day, known as the Bhima seat judgment, this is not a judgment of condemnation, but a judgment of rewarding the faithful. That's something that every Christian will face. And when we consider that day, friends, our faithfulness, our labor and toil, all the hard work we put in, regardless of results.

Christ will be faithful to reward. 1 Corinthians 15, 58 says, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. It's not in vain. It's not worthless. God sees it all, and he will reward it faithfully. And friends, his approval should be enough. Our goal as servants of Christ should be simply to hear those words from our Lord. Well done. Good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master. Friends, that reward will make everything worth it. Now finally, we have seen these imageries of the persevering soldier, the compliant athlete, and the hardworking farmer. But look now at verse 7. And see what Paul says in light of these pictures or metaphors.

He says, Consider what I say. For the Lord will give you understanding in everything. I love this because Timothy is called here to reflect, to contemplate or to mull over these truths. Reflect on the practical implications, especially as he was in this great deal of time of weakness and suffering. He is called to reflect. And Paul is saying here, the Lord will give you understanding. And I pray that even after this sermon, there will be times for you guys also to mull over these things, to think about this even together, whether it's in small groups or over a meal, whatever it might be. Think, how can I be more faithful to Christ? And as you do that, Paul is saying, hey, the Lord's going to give you understanding.

And believe what encouragement this must have brought to Timothy's heart. What encouragement, exhortation this brings to even our own hearts. Because friends, despite all that ministry and life requires, in each of these metaphors, there is a promise of reward. It's not done in vain. As we learn, the reward of the perseverance soldier is to please the one who's enlisted him. That God is pleased with our efforts. The reward for the compliant athlete is the prize. As we are obedient to his word, and God will give us the crown, the unfading crown of glory. And the reward for the hardworking farmer is to receive his share of crops, which for us is the day when Christ will reward us for the faithful and fruitful work that we did in this life.

Timothy is to mull and meditate over these things, and God is the one who will give him strength to persevere. And so, beloved, with that, we come first full circle back to what we first stated earlier. We're reminded once again that apart from Christ, we can do nothing. It's only when we are weak, we are strong because our strength is in him. And so strong servants of Christ are not strong because they have strength in and of themselves, but they are strengthened by the one they serve, the one they love, the one that saved them, the one who has sustained them and upholds them and sanctifies them even now. God is the one who strengthens us for the work he has prepared us to do. And so we are to be faithful to serve him and depend upon him for his glory.

And if anyone's not a Christian here today, just want to quickly end with this. I do want to make clear that the gospel, salvation is not about, it's not for those who think they're strong in and of themselves. It's not about inviting those who have something to offer and say, Lord, I've done this, I have these merits, I have these rewards. But the gospel invites sinners who would see how helpless and hopeless they are in their sins. That they can do nothing in and of their strength to save them and to cover their sins. The gospel is about those who will humbly acknowledge their need for Christ. And they will cry out to God for his mercy and grace. And the gospel is that God has sent his son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect and sinless life.

And it's his son who would lay down his life for us upon a cross to bear the wrath that we deserved. It is Christ who rose again three days later to conquer sin and death, so that for any sinner, if they humbly acknowledge their need for Him, as they turn away from sin, if they trust in Jesus as Savior, they can be saved. And so the Christian faith is really this. We are great sinners. Christ is a great savior. We are weak people. Christ is a strong Savior. And church, let us be encouraged and be reminded of that. That is a truth that we hold to, not only in salvation, but even throughout our Christian life as we run this race until the finish line. Let's pray together.

Father, we thank you for the strength that you give to us through your Son Jesus Christ. Oh God, we are so weak. We are so prone to fall and waver. Yet, Lord, you are the one who upholds and keeps us. You are the one who is faithful till the very end. You are the one who shepherds us and leads us and guides us throughout our whole lives until glory. God, we also pray we as your sheep would not be passive along this way. Help us to stay faithful, to not retreat away to the things of this world, but to stay faithful to you. Help us, Lord, to obey your word, to cling to the truths that you have already taught us and will continue to teach us that we would apply it, regardless of what we face. And help us, Lord, to work heartily unto you.

As Lord, nothing that we do is done in vain. You see it all. We long to please you. We thank you, Lord, for your word. We pray, Lord, you would continue to comfort us through your spirit. And as we mole over these things, we pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen.