Endurance

2 Timothy 2:24-25

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,”

So often people want to believe that they are completely rational beings. Able to, with correct information, make good and appropriate decisions. The biblical narrative tells us something completely different. In the bible, all mankind sees the face of God and their own foolishness. This is why so many do not enjoy reading their bibles. As they come face to face with their maker they are faced with the decision to repent and change or rebel once more.

This particular verse speaks to how the servants of the Living God are to interact and approach others. This particular paragraph begins with the charge to pursue faith, love, peace and a pure heart (verse 22). Why then does the apostle speak of not being quarrelsome? Is not the answer that in pursuing these things the Christian will find himself in conflict with this world? There is nothing new under the sun what was true is true. As Christian men and women seek to pursue Godliness they find themselves in conflict with the sensuality and base passions of this world. How are they to handle this conflict?

The Christian should breathe a sigh of relief. God does not charge them to know the best argument, to be able to orate circles around their opponents, or debate the issue until both sides are weary of the conversation! His charge to the believer is to patiently correct his opponents with gentleness! That means over and over speak truth into the life of those that oppose it. There are those God has given great intellect to that are able to stand on stage and debate the latest issues with finesse and wit, but that is not everyone’s gift! All, however, are charged to simply endure again and again the false arguments of opponents and speak truth gently in return.

This is not the end of the battle for our opponent’s hearts though! This is actually when the battle begins! As the truth lights up the darkness of their soul and the darkness is not able to overcome it God may perhaps grant repentance. This then is our goal, not to when arguments in the public sphere, but to be the instruments of God for salvation in someone’s life. This is something that only God can do, no matter how polished our delivery may be. This is why we pray for those whom we speak truth to. Only God is able to change the hearts of those we love. No argument on our part, no slick delivery, or jovial nature, will save a soul from hell. Only truth lovingly spoken with the spirit of God GRANTING repentance will save, we must pray God will grant repentance.

Speak Truth and Pray. It is not fancy but it is hard to do. To not give in to frustration but simply speak truth gently over and over. To not give in to despair, but continue praying for the impossible, that the dead would be made alive to eat the spiritual fruit laid before them.  To beg God over and over that he would quicken the dead spirit inside them. Patiently enduring, it is hard, it is your calling. Speak Truth often, pray for those that hear it, be the widow who goes time and again the judge until he grants her request.

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO