Untangled.

Have you ever read or heard something and then found yourself thinking about it the rest of the day?

That is what 2 Timothy 2:4 did to me.

I read it during one of my Bible study readings and ever since, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I’m sure I’ve heard it before, but for some reason, this time it stuck with me and has had me pondering and wondering ever since. And I don’t think that it’s a coincidence. I think that’s what the Holy Spirit constantly does to us – stirring our hearts for something more.

And that’s why I’m here, writing this post.

2 Timothy 2:4 says (ESV) – “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”

This is all about what soldiers are trained to do – to please their officer, which for as Christians, is Jesus Christ. For context, if you were to read further, it’s what athletes and farmers are trained to do as well – athletes and farmers work hard and are patient. And the verse prior (2 Timothy 2:3) is the epitome of what we are here to do: “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

And I love how verse 2 Timothy 2:7 concludes – “Reflect on what I (Paul) am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all of this.” So that’s what we are doing, is reflecting.

It’s easy to get distracted by our lives here on this earth and the events happening in our world, isn’t it? We can get caught up our pursuits of sports, hobbies, financial gain, personal worth, fame, careers, and even worries about world events. But when we do that, we lose sight of our mission. And what’s our mission? To GLORIFY AND SERVE GOD ALONE. In EVERY area of our lives. No part of our life is to be exempt. So let me ask, what part of your life have you not fully surrendered to God? This is something I CONSTANTLY have to work on.

What Paul is saying is that we can get so entangled (caught up in) the comforts of this world and our “gain” here, that we lose sight of the entire battle. Like soldiers, athletes, and farmers, we have to be willing to give up “civilian pursuits” in order to get the result we want – and that’s to keep Christ first. Soldiers undergo insane training and discipline so that they can follow orders from their commanding officer to the “T”. Do we pursue God in the same way? Not for a works-righteousness sake, but out of a desire to look like our Creator? To honor and glorify Him?

When we leave distractions in the dust, we can see clearly ahead, our mission – which is GOD. Solely GOD. Only GOD. That’s Who we should be waking up thinking about every morning. That’s Who we should be going to bed at night, thanking. Like a soldier, we are to spend our days serving Him, not ourselves.

So let me ask, what is distracting you from serving God wholeheartedly right now? What is “entangling” your heart? Paul suffered greatly for the gospel and may we be willing to endure the things of this world in order to be faithful to the calling God has given us here on earth. Let’s prioritize GOD, not worldly affairs.