Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved

 2 Timothy 2:1-26

Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

 “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

No one knew better than Paul what it costs to be a Christian. 'From the soldier, Timothy must learn endurance, from the athlete discipline and from the farmer perseverance'. The theme of Paul's gospel is Jesus Christ, risen from the dead: it is for this he has suffered. He offers Timothy a lifeline to hold onto, in the lines of a hymn. He must stick to the true gospel, not be side tracked into empty chatter, wild speculation for fruitless, divisive argument. The true servant of Christ is kind, not quarrelsome, a good teacher, tolerant, and gentle with those who need discipline.

Why?

Be s soldier of Jesus Christ to fight until getting the medal of victory.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved for my life is saved by the Lord. God is my master and I am God's servant.

Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, this is the target of my life have to do.

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神賜我們剛強壯膽的心，所以我們可以剛強起來，不是靠自己的能力。

為選民凡事忍耐

死裏復活，所以是神的兒子，違反當時世俗的規則，特別猶太人反對，所以他們逼迫保羅。保羅則為此真理委身，像戰士、農夫一樣。我們若能夠忍耐，必能得冠冕。

作無愧的工人: 按著正意分解真理的道。不要討人喜歡的說。

人若自潔，脫離卑賤的事：卑賤的事就是和人爭論爭一口氣，贏得爭論，失去關係，好口舌之快，怕輸，以自我為中心這是私慾

主的僕人不可爭競，用溫柔勸戒那抵擋的人。使人願意來聽我們的話語。以為自己有真理想搏倒別人，大家都嚇跑了，如何建造教會呢?

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How?

Be a good servant of the Lord and knowing what I am doing to honor the name of the Lord.