An Approved Servant of the Lord Is One Who Reflects On His Ministry

The Apostle Paul, writing in 2 Tim. 4:6-8 reflects  on  his life in Christ as  he seeks to  encourage  Timothy.  He reflects  on his present, past, and future in regards to living out his  faith. If one  seeks to be  “An Approved  Servant of the Lord,”  he or she  will do the same.

Paul is in  prison in Rome, awaiting  execution.  Paul  knows that he will be with the Lord he has  loved and served. Paul says “The  time of my  departure has come.” (2 Tim. 4:6) The  word “departure” means “loosing of a  ship from its moorings or a soldier loosing the stakes of his tent.”  The  believer  never really  dies, he just departs.  Paul told the Philippians, “I have a desire to depart and be  with Christ” (Phil. 1:23) He said it was   “far better.” 

Charles Spurgeon wrote: “To come to Thee is to come home from exile, to come to land out of the raging  storm, to come to rest after long labor, to come to the  goal of my desire and the summit of my wishes.”

Secondly,  Paul had  a  backward look of his ministry.  We all  must have this desire. We must look back and  reflect on how the Lord has blessed us and  used us in His Church.  In 2 Tim. 4:7 he uses  three words associated  with  victory.  We can have  victory  in the Risen Lord.

It is  heartening to look back and have no regrets.  Warren Wiersbe wrote the  following, “Two of the  images  here are athletic: like a determined wrestler or   boxer, he had fought a good fight; and like a  runner, he had finished his lifelong race victoriously. He had  kept the  rules a deserved a prize. The  third image is that of a steward who had faithfully  guarded his boss’  deposit.”

Thirdly, Paul had a  future  reflection on his life in the Lord. Paul  says that  he, and us today, because  of  faithful living  will  receive “The  Crown of Righteousness.”   This  crown (reward)  is given to all faithful Christians  who live their lives in expectation of the  Lord’s coming. Do you love His appearing? If  so, this  “crown” will  be yours. Unbelievers dread Christ’s  coming, but as believers we  long  for it.  Jesus is our “blessed hope.” (Titus 2:13)

If we  keep on running the race, fighting  the  fight and  living in expectation of  Jesus’ return we will see Him as  He is. (1 John 3:2).   On that  day you will not regret fighting, running and  enduring  for  His Name’s sake.