Verse: 2 Timothy 2:3-7
Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
Devotion
Have you heard the expression, "you can't have your cake and eat it too?" I feel like the first two examples in this passage are basically saying that. A soldier can't be a good soldier while also still trying to be a civilian, an athlete can't be a good athlete while also breaking the rules and doing what they want.
It is a simple, but profound, question for us: are we straddling the fence of faith? Are we saying we follow Jesus, but also following the world? Are we saying we are giving God our all, but still holding onto sin, or bad relationships, in our lives?
It's easy to want the benefits of being a follower of Jesus (relationship with him, his love, his grace, his forgiveness) without wanting the cost of being a follower (laying down our lives, taking up our crosses, obeying his commands). Paul is very clear here to Timothy, you can't have it both ways. John concurs in 1 John 2:15 when he writes, "If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them."
Today, ask the Lord to show you where in your life there is compromise. Where are you straddling the fence of faith. Where are you giving God lip service, but your actions don't follow it up.
And don't beat yourself up. This is a journey all followers of Jesus are on. Everyday we are learning to give him more!