Mennonite Weekly Review

Paul is suffering. And he’s lonely. Because of his zeal for Jesus and the Message, Paul is buried so deep in prison that those who haven’t abandoned him out of fear must search long to find him. It won’t be long before he’s executed, and he knows it.

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But, incredibly, Paul has no regrets. He’s committed to his work — “this faith and love rooted in Christ” (2 Tim. 1:13, Message) — and reaches out in a letter to Timothy, whom he loves like a son (2:1), encouraging him to stand just as sure and firm even as he and other believers also face persecution.

Keep it simple

Stay focused on “this work for Christ,” Paul says (2:1): “Be strong in the grace that is Christ Jesus; and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well” (2:1-2, NRSV). You’ll suffer, but approach it like a good soldier who avoids entanglements, “concentrates on carrying out orders” and aims to “please the enlisting officer” (2:4, Message, NRSV).

We can endure it all so that God’s Message of forgiveness, life and deliverance will reach far and wide. So keep the people focused on that Message — “laying out the truth plain and simple” (2:15, Message). Avoid all distractions, and instead “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2:22, NRSV).

These are distressing times, and “all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (3:12, NRSV). But don’t stop: “He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple” (4:2, Message). People “will turn their backs on truth,” but “keep the Message alive.” While they “fill up on spiritual junk food,” you “keep your eye on what you’re doing” and “do a thorough job as God’s servant” (4:3-5).

Catching the vision

Paul knows he’s writing what could be his last words, yet even so we see a man wholeheartedly, passionately and irrevocably committed to Christ, who has transformed him. At his very core, Paul knows God is who he says and does what he says. For Paul, God’s Message isn’t simply a doctrine or a belief; it is life itself. And that’s worth suffering and dying for.

In The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard says that we “lead people to become disciples of Jesus by ravishing them with a vision of life in the kingdom of the heavens in the fellowship of Jesus. And you do this by proclaiming, manifesting and teaching the kingdom to them in the manner learned from Jesus himself.” That’s Paul. He ravishes others with such a vision, learned from his own relationship with Jesus. For him, life in the kingdom is reality. His life is saturated with it.

How do we nurture that kind of vision? Like Paul, we must make Jesus and his kingdom our whole lives and learn to live out of Christ-in-us. A big part of how we do that is by working with and making ourselves available to God through actions like studying the Word, prayer, serving and other spiritual disciplines. We also can look to mentors of the Way even as we examine our own lives.

In the Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible, William H. Willimon challenges: “The Christian faith is too difficult to be done alone; we must have worthy models. Are we living a life that might be an example to others?”

As we keep focused on the Message and walk with Jesus and others who follow him, that life in Jesus and his kingdom will grow in us. Like Paul, even in suffering, Christ’s life will shine through it all, drawing others to God as we go. Amen — let it be so.