2 Timothy 2:7

‘Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.’

Now let Timothy consider (think over, understand) all that Paul has said, opening himself to the Lord’s guidance, for the Lord’s promise is that through the Scriptures He will give us understanding of all that is required (2 Timothy 3:14-15; compare 1 Corinthians 2:11-16).

As we look at these three examples they remind us of how we should be living. Note for example how none of the people mentioned would have been put off by the rain or bad weather. The soldier would still have dug in or continued marching, the athlete would have continued with his training or his race, the farmer or vinedresser would have continued with his work. They would not even have hesitated or thought about it. Nor would they have expected others to show them favours. They would have known that they bore the responsibility for success themselves, and would have buckled down to the task. They would also have put all their efforts into accomplishing what they were seeking to achieve, going forward, training, disciplining themselves, labouring, for their eye was on the goal, the soldier’s on winning the war and on his marshal’s baton, the athlete’s on the tape and the laurel crown, the farmer’s on the coming harvest. These things would have taken up all their thoughts. How much more then should we be like this, who look not at the things which are temporal, but at the things which are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18)