I know whom I have believed

“Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

For the which cause 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 that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
(2 Timothy 1:11-12)
**********
The Apostle Paul, at his conversion and call into the ministry, was told of the sufferings he would go through in serving the Lord. Acts chapter 9:15-16 states:

“But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Paul was appointed by God as a preacher, an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles, as promised in Acts 9:15. In the discharge of his assigned duties, he suffered, and yet he succeeded in ministry. At the end of his ministry, he could confidently say:

“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand,

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
(2 Timothy 4:5-8).

The secret of his victory, and the driving force in ministry, is found in 2 Timothy 1:12. Let us observe the following:

1. I SUFFERED THESE THINGS. Paul suffered beatings, hunger, imprisonment, shipwreck and false accusations from among his own Jewish people. He suffered all these things in the course of fulfilling his duties as an appointed preacher, an apostle and a teacher to the Gentiles. (Please take time to read: 2 Corinthians 11:22-33; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Because he knew the cause of his suffering, he never complained, nor was he ever discouraged to quit, as we are prone to do. Remember that “If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him.” Be ready to suffer for the Lord, who suffered on the cross to make you free. (Philippians 2:29; 2 Timothy 2:12).

2. I AM NOT ASHAMED. In his suffering, Paul could say, “…nevertheless I am not ashamed”. Paul is saying that though he suffered in service to the Lord, he was not ashamed to suffer for the One who bore his sins in His own body on the tree, despising the shame. In His suffering, He left us an example to follow. (1 Peter 20-25; Hebrews 12:1-4). Please take time to read Romans 1:14-18.

3. I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED. The success in living a victorious Christian life and serving the Lord with joyfulness and unashamedly, hugely depends on the object of our belief. Paul declared that he knew whom he had believed. He knew God was faithful, trustworthy, dependable, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing, and the sovereign, Almighty God. Paul’s confidence was based on the One he had believed. I pray and trust that you will live for the Lord, and be ready to serve Him, regardless of what you go through, because you know whom you have believed. Knowing the Lord intimately makes all the difference in our service to Him. May it be our daily prayer: “that I may know Him”.

4. I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE TO KEEP. Knowing whom he had believed, Paul makes another important statement saying, “I am persuaded”. He was fully convinced, without a shadow of doubt, that the God whom he had trusted, was able to keep, or preserve his life and his imperishable soul, which Paul had committed (entrusted) to Him, until the day of redemption. Can you re-cho the confident confession of the Apostle Paul? Are you convinced, or persuaded that He (God), is able to keep you safe and secure unto that day – the coming of Christ? Beloved, God is able, and so is Christ also able.

This is the conclusion of the whole matter – if we are going to live a victorious Christian life and serve the Lord joyfully, we must at all times be ready to suffer for His sake. We must not be ashamed of Him, we must know whom we have believed and finally, we must be persuaded that He able to keep us safe and secure until the return of Christ.

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
(Jude 1:24-25). Shalom

OUR PRAYER
Lord, help me to identify with you in your suffering, and give me grace to suffer for your sake. May I glory in your suffering, and never be ashamed of you. Help me to know you better, that I may never doubt you, but rather, be persuaded that you are able to help me in every situation and keep me safe. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.