A Thousand Words

It is said that a picture is worth 1,000 words. What do you think? I think it's most definitely true. At least 1,000 words. I also think that in some pictures we can see into the future. Look at this picture for example. What do you think is going to happen in the next few minutes after Santa asks this little boy what he wants for Christmas?

When the apostle Paul was in prison near the end of his life, he wrote a few letters to his young protégé, Timothy. In his second letter Paul used some important word pictures to get a message across about how Timothy should pursue his faith in Jesus. Open your Bibles to 2 Timothy 2 and let's read part of that letter beginning in verse one.

"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." - 2 Timothy 2:1-2

Paul calls Timothy his son. They must be very close. Paul wants Timothy to carry on in his absence, teaching others. Paul was in prison and about to die. The word pictures begin in the third verse.

^"3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." - 2 Timothy 2:3

What words come to mind when you think about a soldier? Honor, Duty, Bravery, Sacrifice, Strength, Courage. Paul wants Timothy to be all these things . . . for God.

There are other word pictures in 2 Timothy 2. Six of them to be exact. Here they are.

A Soldier - 2 Timothy 2:3-4
An Athlete  - 2 Timothy 2:5
A Farmer - 2 Timothy 2:6
A Worker - 2 Timothy 2:15
A Vessel - 2 Timothy 2:21
A Servant - 2 Timothy 2:24

Paul wanted Timothy to have the characteristics of all these. WE are to be like all these as well. We are to train ourselves like an athlete, plant seeds and water "the crops", we are expected to work hard for the Lord and be a vessel containing God's Word and His Holy Spirit. And we are to be a servant . . . a slave, and God is our Master.

Are we all those things? We should be.

I don't think I spend enough time training myself for battle or living like a slave with God as my Master and I am His servant. I need to spend more time living like Paul who spent his last days living in chains because he refused to change his ways. He refused to stop preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are followers of Christ, not the world or the church or some preacher. We are followers of Jesus. Are we following? Are the images we are creating in other people's minds about the way WE live, are they God-honoring images?

May we walk through this world as followers of Jesus Christ, not Joel Osteen, Deepak Chopra or anyone else. We are followers of Christ! Let's take Him by the hand and walk.

Walk With Me - Jesus Culture
10,000 Reasons - Matt Redman