Yesterday, we began the second chapter of 2 Timothy, which is all about loyalty. And we asked the question, what does it mean for us to be loyal to God? Today, we’ll look at a couple of ways Paul gives us, and tomorrow, we’ll look at another two.
Work hard (like Paul did)
Firstly, says Paul, work hard in God’s service, just like I do. Follow my example: keep going, even if it’s difficult. And he uses three analogies that were very common in the first century when you were encouraging hard work and discipline: that of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. This starts in verse 3: