Alistair Begg – Think, Focus, Learn

This message, brought to you by Truth For Life, is presented by Alistair Begg. For more information, visit us online at truthforlife.org. Please turn to page 995 in the church Bibles to find 2 Timothy, Chapter 2. We will read from verses 1 to 13, and I invite you to follow along as I read:

2 Timothy 2:1-13 (ESV)

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,
for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound.
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
The saying is trustworthy:
- If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
- If we endure, we will also reign with him;
- If we deny him, he also will deny us;
- If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

Amen.

Prayer
Father, we turn to the Bible now. We desire more than just to gain knowledge—we want to be transformed by you, the Living God. Help us, we pray, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Reflection
Imagine sitting down to write your final letter. What would you include? Interestingly, many of us may struggle to even imagine writing a letter today. Letter writing has largely been replaced by instant communication, and many may never experience the joy of leaving something behind in writing. While the digital age offers faster communication, it has also made letter writing a rare practice.

That said, children in future generations likely won’t be saying, “Let’s go up in the attic and read Grandma’s emails.” Instead, they will look to physical letters, such as those from the recent Vacation Bible School (VBS), which led to 166 letters being sent to Austria.

Paul’s final letter to Timothy stands out in a similar way. As his last letter, Paul communicates the core message of his life and ministry—ensuring that Timothy, and those who follow, understand the significance of the gospel, its power to transform lives, and the necessity of preserving and sharing it for future generations. In this letter, Paul urges Timothy to embrace the call to suffer for the gospel, proclaim it boldly, and ensure that others also take a stand for it.

Paul’s message is clear: living out the gospel is not easy. He uses the imagery of a soldier, athlete, and farmer to highlight the tough and enduring nature of this calling. Paul himself, strengthened by the grace of Christ Jesus, has endured hardship for the sake of the gospel. Now, Timothy is encouraged to do the same, empowered by God’s grace, to run the race and finish strong in the faith.

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