Word pictures...Bible reading week 36, day 3

Our devotional today is an in between chapter one and we will be back to Zechariah chapter 9 on Friday.  I love word pictures that the Bible gives us to dig into.  They are illustrations that we remember and are able to help us to explain to others what God is saying.  I tend to slow down when we get to a word picture and try to paint it as vividly as possible.  The word pictures also give us an insight on the author's time and how they described what was sometimes hard to explain with just words.  It is the author saying, "It's like this..."

I came across a devotional about the chapter of all chapters when it comes to the number of word pictures used.  It is Paul writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 2.  We find 7 different word pictures describing the same thing in these 26 verses.  

The first is in verse 2 and it is the word picture of a trustee, those faithful to hold onto something.  It says,

"What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

We have heard and we are to be trustworthy to share it with others who will do the same.  I hold onto something as a trustee to use it in the proper way as instructed.  

The second is in verses 3 and 4 and it is the word picture of a soldier, those following orders of others.  The verses say,

"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer."

Our commanding officer is Jesus and He has ordered us to go and make disciples.  The soldier has orders from his ranking officer and a good soldier doesn't go off on his own and make up his own orders.

The third is in verse 5 and it is the word picture of an athlete, one who is running a race.  It says,

"Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules."

The athlete trains and the athlete has a desire to win but what is emphasized here is the rules that the athlete needs to know to abide with.  The athlete needs to stay in his or her lane.  The athlete needs to not foul the other athletes.  The one who gives the crown is Jesus and Jesus doesn't give the crown to those who cheat.

The fourth is in verse 6 and it is the word picture of the farmer, one who is working the land for possible harvest.  It says,

"The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops."

What is stressed about the farmer here?  It is that we have a hardworking farmer.  We have someone who is attending the fields and the crops.  He or she is waking up each morning with the agenda of doing all that he or she can for the upcoming harvest.

The fifth is in verse 15 and it is the word picture of the workman, a general laborer of the day.  It says,

"Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth."

We have a worker who knows what to do.  A dependable worker who excels even when no one else is looking.  When this worker's work comes under review, he or she is not ashamed because it has been following the instruction of the foreman.

The sixth is in verse 21 and it is the word picture of the vessel, an object used to hold something, usually of a liquid form.  It says,

"So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work."

A special instrument or vessel that went through a purification process to hold liquids that would be consumed.  God's good works are completed by those vessels who are cleansed by Him through His cleansing process of what is in His word.  Those vessels cleansed by Him are set apart for use by Him.

The last is in verse 24 and 25 and it is the word picture of the servant, one who is in submission to his or her master.  The verses say,

"The Lord's servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness.  Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth."

We have a servant that submits to his or her Master with a message that is to be given without quarrel.  The message goes out in a gentle and teachable way with great patience.  This message even goes to the enemy with the same gentleness.  The goal is that some of the enemy would not be the enemy anymore.  They would become part of God's family of truth and be submissive servants of their new Master.  

So a plethora of word pictures for us to ponder this morning.   We are to be trustees, soldiers, athletes, farmers, workmen, vessels, and servants.  We are to be faithful trustees.  We are to be focused soldiers.  We are to be rule abiding athletes.  We are to be hard working farmers.  We are to be cleansed vessels ready for His use.  We are to be gentle and patient gospel spreading servants even to the enemy.  Let us pray.

"Lord, how You want to help us to understand so that we can live our lives in honor and glory of You.  Thank You for these pictures this morning to guide us with our words and actions.  May one of them stick in our minds to think more about today.  Amen."

Pastor Adam