II Timothy 2:3, 4 "You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."
Timothy, became a servant of Christ through his devotion to the Apostle Paul. He traveled with him. Along the way, Paul appointed the young disciple as pastor of a newly formed church. The young man soon found it was far different to pastor a flock on one's own, than to travel with the beloved mentor. No longer the itinerate associate of the Apostle, he is to see himself a soldier who must stay on duty alone in one place.
Endurance. That is what it would take for the youthful pastor to succeed. Paul saw the local church as a spiritual battle field; the pastor as a soldier of Christ; the ministry, warfare.
In one way or another we all lead some one, at work, at church, at school, friends or family. See yourself a soldier for Christ, in His service, under His orders, pledged to be faithful. Wherever you are, as a soldier for Christ, under orders to be engaged in spiritual warfare with whole-hearted loyalty. When you take it on the chin for Jesus, when you refuse to give up, but carry on, others will want to serve Christ with you.
Endurance is vital to effective Christian service. Endurance is the outcome of single-minded determination. Never give up. Once the commitment is made, the separation occurs, devote everything to a cause, a goal, a service, a person, or a church, That's it. There's no way back, only forward into the battle. Face the foe and claim the victory. It means loyalty that allows no other allegiance.
Engaged or entangled? Endurance in Christian service requires engagement in spiritual warfare. To do so frees one from worldly affairs to be Christ's good soldier.
Prayer: Lord, I want to stand strong for those you have assigned to my care. Alert me to the battles we must face together. Train me to engage in spiritual warfare and not to get entangled with worldly distractions. In your name. Amen