NOT JUST THE WHAT BUT THE WHO
2 TIMOTHY 1:9-10 & 12
2 TIMOTHY 1:9-10 & 12 NKJ
9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
OBSERVATION:
Paul's second letter is an encouragement to Timothy regarding what God has done for us through Christ Jesus.
We've not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. So we are not to be ashamed of the Lord.
Paul understood God's grace probably better than anyone. It was not due to his high intelligence, but rather it was a revelation that God gave him.
Paul recognized we were saved and called with a holy calling. Not because we have earned this wonderful salvation. But because of God's purpose and grace that is ours in Christ.
Jesus' coming to earth and completing God's work brought life and immortality to mankind through the gospel. Anyone who believes He is the Son of God who has been raised from the dead walks into an entirely new way of living. And a new way of looking at eternity.
Because Paul was assigned the task of spreading this good news to the Gentiles, people who had no knowledge of God, he dealt with a huge amount of hardships. He suffered prison, beatings, stonings, mob attacks, shipwreck, and the list goes on.
But Paul shares a powerful insight in verse 12. Even with all the things he suffered, he was not ashamed. He was not embarrassed. He was just fine.
Because Paul knew whom he believed, not just what he believed. He had a personal relationship with the Father God and the Lord Jesus Christ that made him a strong person.
And Paul knew that his work was not in vain, and his life would continue into eternity. So, the temporary trouble he suffered was just that, temporary. Because Paul knew who he did all this for, the One who saved him and called him, he could continue in the face of extreme pressure and heartache. Knowing the who made the what tolerable.
APPLICATION:
Our goal is to not know simply what we believe but to know who we believe. It's not just the word, it’s His word. And on the strength of our relationship with the Father and the Lord Jesus, we can handle what life throws at us with a much stronger resolve.
PRAYER:
Lord, I want to know You more. You give so much more meaning to this life.