Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 6
Saturday


DAY OF DAYS

READ:
2 Timothy 2:1-4
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You therefore must
endure hardship as a
good soldier of Jesus
Christ. __2 Timothy 2:3
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In the television miniseries Band of Brothers, the 101st Airborne is flown over their drop zone during D-Day, the major offensive to liberate Europe from Nazi control. As the main character, Lt. Richard Winters, parachutes from the plane, the crack of antiaircraft and machine-gun fire fills the air.

Winters later reflected on his first day in combat: "That night, I took time to thank God for seeing me through that day of days.... And if somehow I manage to get home again, I promise God and myself that I would find a quiet piece of land someplace, and spend the rest of my life in peace." Winters knew he must endure until that day came.

The Bible tells us that believers are caught in a conflict initiated by Satan's rebellion against God. Because of this, we are challenged to "endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 2:3). In Paul's day, the Roman legionnaires suffered in service for the emperor. As followers of Jesus, we may be called upon to do the same for the King of kings.

In heaven, we will no longer experience such difficulties but will enjoy lasting peace with the Savior. For now, we are to persevere by faith. __Dennis Fisher
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`````````Lord, the trials we face at times seem too much to bear.``````
`````````We're grateful, though, for the reminders in Your Word```````
````````````that You will stay by our side and help us endure`````````
`````````````````````till You call us Home. Amen.````````````````
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Victory is sure for those who endure.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Timothy 2:1-4**********

1 You therefore, my son,
be strong in the grace that
is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the
things that you have heard
from me among many
witnesses, commit these to
faithful men who will be
able to teach others also.

3 You therefore must endure
hardship as a good soldier
of Jesus Christ. 4 No one
engaged in warfare
entangles himself with the
affairs of this life, that he
may please him who
enlisted him as a soldier.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In addition to describing the role of a spiritual soldier in the service
of the King of kings (vv.3-4), Paul maps out for his young protege,
Timothy, a protocol for discipling and mentoring people in faith.
It is a plan (v.2) that includes four spiritual generations, beginning
with Paul himself ("heard from me"), continuing with Timothy ("you
have heard"), advancing to those with whom Timothy was working
("commit... to faithful men"), and extending to those who will be
reached by Timothy's own students ("others also"). This process of
discipling continues to pass the teachings of Christ along, so that
generations to come will hear them as well. __Bill Crowder