Tuesday 12th May - Sue
2 Timothy 1:12
“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause fir shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I entrusted to him for that day. (NIV)
Here is Paul, sitting in jail, knowing his death is coming soon, being deserted by so many of his friends. He knows why he is suffering and yet he makes this powerful proclamation. He knows whom he believes and is convinced that God is able to guard what he entrusts to Him.
William Barclay points out: “We must always remember that Paul does not say he knew WHAT he believed, but rather WHOM he believed. His certainty did not come from the intellectual knowledge of a creed or theology; it came from a personal knowledge of God. He knew God intimately, he knew His love, His power, To Paul it was inconceivable that God could fail him.”
Our faith in ministering to others must be out of whom we believe in, not merely what we believe in. The “what” matters, but is not what is convincing. Paul’s faith is about the relationship he has with Christ. The faith is what is providing the comfort, motivation, and passion to keep Paul going in spite of his circumstances. He is totally sure that the God he adores and knows is guarding what he has given to Him to keep.
If we can entrust to God what is in our hearts, what is worrying us, what is not making sense, what is discouraging us, what is dangerous to us, what is hurting us ... God will guard it, not with a passive action, but with a never-ending protection and care. May we be able to claim this verse with the same conviction as Paul had.
“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause fir shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I entrusted to him for that day. (NIV)
Here is Paul, sitting in jail, knowing his death is coming soon, being deserted by so many of his friends. He knows why he is suffering and yet he makes this powerful proclamation. He knows whom he believes and is convinced that God is able to guard what he entrusts to Him.
William Barclay points out: “We must always remember that Paul does not say he knew WHAT he believed, but rather WHOM he believed. His certainty did not come from the intellectual knowledge of a creed or theology; it came from a personal knowledge of God. He knew God intimately, he knew His love, His power, To Paul it was inconceivable that God could fail him.”
Our faith in ministering to others must be out of whom we believe in, not merely what we believe in. The “what” matters, but is not what is convincing. Paul’s faith is about the relationship he has with Christ. The faith is what is providing the comfort, motivation, and passion to keep Paul going in spite of his circumstances. He is totally sure that the God he adores and knows is guarding what he has given to Him to keep.
If we can entrust to God what is in our hearts, what is worrying us, what is not making sense, what is discouraging us, what is dangerous to us, what is hurting us ... God will guard it, not with a passive action, but with a never-ending protection and care. May we be able to claim this verse with the same conviction as Paul had.
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Salvation Army Songbook 843:
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