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In 2 Timothy 2:1-7, Paul talks about being strong, not on our own, but "in the grace that is in Christ." Paul exhorts Timothy to pass on what he's learned to others, who in turn can teach others. However, Paul does remain realistic. He knows that teaching and discipling others won't be easy. He emphasizes three things to Timothy: (1) it's going to be hard, (2) you'll need to persevere, and (3) the results often come later.

First, Paul encourages Timothy to keep focused on God, like a soldier who is focused on serving his commander. This is crucial because focusing on problems is indeed discouraging, but a focus on God gives an eternal dimension to our perspective. Second, in the area of persevering, Paul draws an analogy to an athlete. Any athlete must endure sessions of training. There are no short cuts, especially during the competition. For the victor's crown, perseverance is essential. Finally, Paul assures Timothy that the results of his work may not be immediate. Using the analogy of farming, he points out that a crop is only harvested after the hard work of previous months.

This passage also reminds us of eternal rewards: a soldier who endures receives approval from his commander; a victorious athlete receives a crown after the race; a hard-working farmer receives the first share of the crop. God doesn't overlook our work; there are rewards in store for us.

--Lynn Kincaid is a campus staff worker at the U. of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (IL).