DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
2 Timothy 2:1-10
(10/26)
Epistle for the Feast of the Great Martyr Demetrios
Being Strong: 2 Timothy 2:1-10, especially vs. 1: “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that
is in Christ Jesus.” There are numerous types and sources of strength. First one must decide what sort of
strength he requires. The woman who
wishes to bear a strong, healthy baby manages her diet, follows an appropriate
exercise regimen, and keeps her body in the best possible health. The commanding general of a Deployment
Ready Task Force looks to the health, training, and equipping of his troops so
that he may be strong enough militarily to prevail over his nation’s
enemies. The type of strength
desired determines where one invests energy.
What about us who wish to “...be strong in the grace
that is in Christ Jesus” (vs. 1)?
To what sources shall we turn?
Consider what
Above all notice that the Apostle provides three
analogies: the soldier (vss. 3,4), the athlete (vs. 5), and the farmer (vs.
6). Committed Christians may be like
soldiers, athletes or farmers, except, of course, the Faithful look to the
grace that is in the Lord as the source for the strength they require and
are seeking. So then, what light do
the three analogies shine upon our efforts for gaining strength in the grace
that is in the Lord Jesus?
We know from the Apostle (vs. 3), from Saint Theophan, and from many others that, as Christians, we are
in spiritual warfare. By analogy
from soldiers in the armed forces, how are we spiritual soldiers to become
strong in grace?
The mother of children at home, the office worker, the
doctor making his rounds, the parish Priest at ministry, the
salesman with his customers, all of these are merely
“assigned” to different sectors along the total front where the
spiritual war is being waged.
In all occupations, the prayer is the same, “Your
will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10). One must not think that his activities,
duties, work, and responsibilities are his sole or primary concern or are that
which should preoccupy him. Our
Commander will hold us accountable for how we behave, think, feel, care, react,
and choose amidst our duties and work, as well as for how we meet our
given responsibilities.
Consider: in the positions we occupy, are we consistently
functioning as His hands, eyes, and mouths? Are we speaking His truth through our
words? It is not a matter of acting
piously, but of being faithful to the Lord. We are to apply the grace we have in
daily life.
To “...please him who enlisted...” us as soldiers (2 Tim. 2:4) requires communication with our
Commander - which means prayer.
Admittedly, our “two-way radios” may lack a great deal. But, wonder of wonders, if we use them,
the static diminishes and grace comes!
Use the little breaks between tasks to report in, call for support, ask
for direction, and seek restoration.
As Christians, we are athletes, running “...the race
that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).
The primary way to success for athletes is training. Remember that the New Testament word for
“disciple” literally means “trainee.” To run well, take good food from the
Scriptures and the Fathers. Train
yourself in prayer, through fasting, and receive the Bread that gives life (Jn.
6:48).
As Christian “farmers,” let us water the seed
planted at our Baptism. The weeds
that would choke the developing life within must be carefully pulled out by
self-examination and confession.
Let us work hard that we may “...be first to partake of the
crops” (2 Tim. 2:6).
O Lord, keep us in Thy
sanctification, confirm us in the Orthodox Faith, and deliver us.
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