Because I Know

2 Timothy 1:12

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.

At the writing of this devotional, I have been saved for over five decades. In these five decades, I have learned much about our Saviour that keeps me going through tough times. My thoughts about what I know about the Saviour are the same thoughts that Paul knew. Paul said he was not ashamed of Christ because He knew some things about Him.

First, Paul said, I know whom I have believed. Paul did not get to know the Saviour by sitting and doing nothing, but he got to know the Saviour by serving. He did not get to know the Saviour by running from trials and difficulties, but he got to know the Saviour by going through these trials and difficulties with the Saviour. You will find that the longer you serve the LORD, the more you will learn about the faithfulness, grace, mercy, and longsuffering of God. You don't get to know God by playing, but you get to know Him by serving Him through the fires of adversity.

Second, Paul said that He learned that God is able. These two words are an anchor that every believer must hold onto. The fact that God is able to keep what I have committed unto Him means He is powerful enough to keep me in the hard times of life. If God can keep our salvation safe until the day we step into Heaven, He is able to keep us safe through the trials we face. What do you think is harder: God keeping us safe through trials, or God keeping our salvation safe until we get to Heaven? Keeping our salvation safe until the day we go to Heaven takes the greatest level of protecting powers. Therefore, there is nothing too big that God cannot protect us from despite its enormity in our lives.

Now, because we know this about our God, it should cause us to do two things. First, it should cause us to endure all things. Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:10, Therefore, I endure all things. Paul was saying that he chose to endure all things because He knew God was able to protect Him, and He knew that God was faithful to come through on His Word. You can endure all things when you know the providence and power of God to do all things and to protect you from all things. You can endure criticism, attacks, trials, and heartache. Understand that you must choose to endure all things. God will not make you to endure all things, but you will get to know Him better if you choose to endure all things. Because we know that God is faithful and that He is able, it should motivate us to choose to endure all things that come our way.

Second, we should continue because of what we know about our Saviour. Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:14, but continue. Continue to do what you have learned. Just because hard times have come does not mean we should quit. Rather, we should continue because of what we know about our Saviour. Continuing is the choice to take another step. Continuing is the choice to put one foot in front of the other. If the only thing you know is that God holds your tomorrow, that alone should cause you to continue despite the hardships you face today. My friend, let your knowledge of what you know about God cause you not only to endure all things, but endure them by continuing. You will find if you continue that you will not only get to know God better, but you will get to see Him miraculously prove Himself to you again.