More targeted at self
Seems that the last implication question (from the example about the farmer) I thought up from preparing 2 Tim 2:1-7 was meant more for myself at this point in time than simply for the general crowd:
"Do we give up halfway? (Not the same as taking a break, but giving up/abandoning the gospel work)"
Writing this here to remind myself of this in the future.
A good way to aim for
Make sure you disciple them so that at the end of their lives they will not hear the words, “You fool”.
Run the race in the same way yourself.
End of hiatus
After the exceedingly long undeclared hiatus, have finally decided to "come back". Am definitely far from being compared (literally) with the prodigal son though. Realized that I now know what it's like to have some head knowledge still, but have the heart and everything else dying.
Though some of the problems remain, it is not true that time is necessary to solve them. Some problems take more than just time to be resolved. In fact, other issues start to creep in from "stopping" for extended periods of time.
No teacher today will ever be able to boast a perfect life (on a clear conscience), but it is important to change ways and thoughts that are wrong as they encounter the Word for themselves.
Some goals that are set for the short and long term:
- to turn back to being serious about understanding what God has to say via Scriptures.
- to take repentance seriously. Hearing but not doing doesn't cut it.
- to see how teaching can be done as accurately as possible to what the Author intended. Involves both the bible study, and the living it out and interactions with others too.
May God help me not continue to make a mockery of Jesus' substitutionary death for us.