I think that sometimes our focus as Christians and proclaimers of the gospel gets tangled up in the weeds of the world. Well, I know this is true because there are many examples in Scripture that calls us to be diligent, to be steadfast, to keep our eyes on the right things…

In 2 Timothy, Paul writes a letter to Timothy encouraging him to do this. As I was reading, one verse really hit me. Here is the passage in chapter 2:

1)You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2) and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men[fn] who will be able to teach others also.

3)Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

4) No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

… No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him!! That verse is POWERFUL. We are constantly being bombarded with the temptation of being drawn into this world’s “civilian pursuits”, whether it’s pursuing success, pursing money or even pursuing fruitless political debates. Instead we should “share in the suffering” and not be entangled in these things. We should aim to please the One who has enlisted us!

In the previous book to Timothy, Paul also wrote this in the same vein:

1 Peter 2:11-12 Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.

This world is not our home… don’t get cozy!

Soli Deo Gloria

Jesse Horne