“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV)
In this very last letter from Paul, he wrote from prison. Persecution for preaching the gospel was nothing new to him, but now he was also deserted. Even those whom he had considered family in Christ were ashamed of his imprisonment and had distanced themselves from him. Even still:
“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12, NIV)
In 2 Timothy, Paul appealed to Timothy to not be ashamed of him or of the gospel, and he also gave instructions on how to endure. Here are four ways we too can faithfully endure suffering:
1. Fan the flame.
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6, NIV)
Whatever gifting God has given us to use for his kingdom and his glory needs to be exercised and increased. Whenever you take a bold stand for God—whether through sharing his word, helping people in need, affirming moral absolutes, or loving the unlovely—someone on the other side of that belief or action may reject you, demean you, or oppose you. I think that this is an effective tactic of the enemy in our day—that he stirs up negative and divisive people to instill in us a fear of cancel culture.
Even in writing, I have moments of apprehension about “putting myself out there” like this because I know that kingdom work invites criticism. However, I’m encouraged by this Scripture. I have a gift, and I need to fan the flame rather than walk in shame, and that goes for all of us. Fear and criticism can cause us to retreat, but our call is to use our spiritual gifts to advance Christ’s kingdom.
“Fear and criticism can cause us to retreat, but our call is to use our spiritual gifts to advance Christ’s kingdom.”
2. Stay focused.
“No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.” (2 Timothy 2:4–6, NIV)
I’d like to add an example along the lines of Paul’s illustrations of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Racehorses wear headgear that many people think is for decoration—but it’s actually fitted with blinders that restrict the horse’s field of vision. The blinders help the horse not to become distracted, looking around at other horses and losing speed. They also help the horse not to veer outside of the track. This is an image I try to keep in my mind when temporal things vie for my attention. My life is not my own but centers on a kingdom-first pursuit to glorify God and to bring others to him.
“My life is not my own but centers on a kingdom-first pursuit to glorify God and to bring others to him.”
3. Handle the word correctly.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV) 
This is important because, as Paul explains, some people misuse the Word of God. He also gave a good way to identify them. If someone’s use of Scripture is accompanied by malice, hurtfulness, and hatred, then they’re using it wrong. The purpose of God’s Word is to bring people to repentance.
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 2:24-25, NIV)
4. Anchor yourself in Scripture.
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14–15, NIV)
Paul told Timothy to continue in his study of the scriptures to make him wise for salvation in Christ. What were the scriptures in Timothy’s day? Paul certainly wasn’t talking about the New Testament, which he was actually writing as he composed this letter. No, the Holy Scriptures here were the Old Testament, Genesis to Malachi. Paul affirmed what we’ve been learning all along through this reading plan: All of Scripture points to Jesus!
Paul likened his walk with Christ to a race he had run faithfully. He had fanned the flame by exercising his spiritual gifts, undeterred even by harsh persecution. He was laser focused on the mission at hand—sharing the gospel with every person he could reach. He taught the Word accurately as God’s messenger by the power of the Holy Spirit. And the Word of God was his anchor.
“The Word of God was his anchor.”
In the closing of this letter, though he had been deserted by almost everyone, he found his strength and assurance in the presence of Christ, in the Word of God, and in the gospel mission.
“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.” (2 Timothy 4:17, NIV)
This is a picture of a life of faithfulness. Fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith.
“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8, NIV)
