Jesus said, If salt loses it’s saltiness it is no longer fit for use.
He also said we are a city set on a hill. He said our light should not be hidden.
Mission will demand things of us that just getting by could never produce. Mission drives us towards preparation, intercession, readiness. It equips us for endurance!
2Timothy 2:3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard–working farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. 8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Paul had a mission eternal in the heavens. He was passing that mission on to Timothy.
What was it? Bring the message of the gospel despite the opposition, enduring all things for the elect so that they might obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus.
This is why he is telling Timothy to endure hardship as a good soldier.
This will take some serious moxie. This is where courage gets tested. Will we stand with Him even when it is not popular with others that we do so?
Will we keep standing despite the opposition until our culture is changed for the glory of God?
Will we persist with the good news of Jesus Christ despite all of this, or will we tire of it?
What are we doing to change our world?
Are we about our mission where we live?
This is why the early church needed moxie!
They were asked to change the very generation that killed their Master.
They were asked to go to that rebellious and dangerous lot in Jerusalem that cried crucify Him and tell them the good news of His death and resurrection.
That was and still is the mission. Let’s shake ourselves awake and ready ourselves once more for the sake of the mission we’ve been given.
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
