2 Timothy 1:12-14: I Am Not Ashamed
2021-12-18
Appointed to Suffering
Paul was designated a preacher, apostle, and teacher by the Lord. The result was suffering. Suffering is a part of the Christian life, especially for someone as prominent as Paul who did so much teaching publicly.
We are appointed to suffering. In 1 Thessalonians 3:1-8, we see that Timothy went to Thessalonica to see how the church was doing there. They were facing a lot of persecution there. The report was that their faith was still strong amid the persecution. Paul reminded them that persecution is a part of the Christian life. There is a possibility that their faith was not genuine; persecution reveals this: “lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.”
The parable of the sower includes this scenario (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23). Either they (1) do not understand the Gospel, (2) tribulation or persecution causes offense, (3) worldly riches lure them away, or (4) they bear fruit. The concern was that those in Thessalonica were in the second category.
Paul, on the other hand, was not ashamed. He was not one who was offended as the second scenario in the parable of the sower. “I know whom I have believed” indicates his full trust in Christ, that even in the face of persecution, he is still pushing forward in service. This shows God’s divine work in his life, because otherwise, he would have long failed.
Moreover, Paul believes that the work he did was fulfilling God’s will. He was convinced that God remembered all he did and how he persevered through all the trials. There is great reward in continuing through persecution (Matthew 5:10-12).
A repentance needs to take place as to how we feel about persecution. Laughing at us for some of our views is about as much as we see here, like not believing in evolution or being against abortion. There will be a day when following Christ will be illegal, and we may face imprisonment or death. Decide now to stand strong in that day, and to continue following Jesus. Prepare spiritually now.
Sound Words
Timothy is told to “Hold fast the form of sound words”: meditate on those uncorrupt words, such as what Paul was writing to Timothy (the Word of God). Of all the things we must hear throughout our day, whether at work or out doing necessary business, our minds need to remember the Scriptures. In Philippians 4:8-9, we are told to meditate on those things with are good and godly.
It is not enough to have the Word of God in our minds if we do not hold to it “in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
Concerning faith: “without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Concerning love: “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
Knowledge must be paired with faith and love. We consider God’s Word as truth, and share it in love with others.
Guarding What Is Entrusted to You by the Indwelling Holy Spirit
In verse 12, we see how Paul committed his works to the Lord. We must do the same. However, we also see that the Lord commits things to us. Here the Lord committed a spiritual gift to Timothy. It is not enough to have it; we also must guard what the Lord has entrusted to us. There is testimony at stake, and gifts must be used to be developed.
Guarding what the Lord has entrusted to us is done by “the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, we see that the Spirit is the one who empowers the gifts and distributes them to us.
The Holy Spirit “dwelleth in us.” Every saved person has the indwelling Holy Spirit: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9). However, we have a need to be filled with the Spirit: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). One is an objective truth and is independent of our experience. The other is subjective and a command. (Like being the new man versus the command to put on the new man.)