Entangled

2 Timothy 2:4
No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

A nice short verse to think about, but it’s been bouncing around in my head for the last few days. As believers, we’ve got to stay “on mission,” and we do a pretty poor job of it. One of the biggest challenges we face in Salt and Light is students who fill up their schedules with school, sports, work, and other “busyness” without setting aside time for prayer, the Word, discipleship, etc. In that respect, we’re no different from the rest of the church.
Why bother calling yourself a Christian if your actions show you don’t give a crap about Christ, his kingdom, and his church?

And it troubles me, too. The whole book of 2 Timothy paints a picture of a life of fearlessness and sacrifice, which lies in absurd contrast to my own. I think this is good in that it is developing in me a fear of entanglement — a fear that I may indulge myself in pursuits that lead me away from the straight and narrow, that blur the glory of our heavenward call, that pull my gaze away from Jesus Christ.

“Ever, only, all for Thee” — that’s how I need to live. I think it starts on a small level…not indulging myself during work by wasting time on the Internet, or other trifles. It’s a good place to begin. I’ve also been meaning to become a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters…to invest the love of Christ in the life of someone who has never received it before.