I know whom I believed, and am persuaded He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him

In this verse from 2 Timothy 1:12 Paul (the writer) tells us he knows two things. Firstly he knows the One whom he as believed. This is not so much believing the teachings (it’s not what I have believed, but whom I have believed). It does not exclude that, but Paul is saying that he knows God in the same way that we know a person. Paul’s knowing is experiential, he has received God’s comfort, and strength in weakness and trials and temptation. The second thing that he knows, is that the Lord is able to keep (guard NIV) what he (Paul) has entrusted (deposited - Mounce) to Him for safe keeping. The sense of his commitment being deposited for safe keeping is brought out 1 Timothy 6:20. There Paul tells Timothy to guard the deposit (same word) entrusted to Him in ministry. The point, it is God who does the keeping and guarding.

Knowing God in the same way that we know and experience a person (and not just knowing about Him), is at the very heart of living the successful Christian life. Paul tells us that he counte everything he once valued as rubbish, in order that “I might know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering” (Philippians 3:8,10). The power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering are inseparable. But when we fully commit to Him, like buddies in a war we are bonded together with Him in our suffering. As I have said before, He suffered for us, and He suffers with us. Suffering is not something we seek, but when we do suffer we can rest in the knowledge that God is working all things together for our good (Roman 8:28 again). And if is seems like a sentence of death at times, know that He allows what He allows so that we might learn “not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9).

There are many reasons we might hold back from coming to the Lord in the first place, or from complete surrender afterwards. We don’t know if we can trust ourselves to follow through, or to not to mess up. Many hold back because they are not sure they can change, or that they could change or maintain if they do. But we need to see not trying as the greatest failure, and that He is faithful and just to forgive when we mess up (1 John 1:9). And He is the best teacher ever. Like a skillful, gentle and loving coach, He comes along side of us and tenderly encourages us calling us up, not out! We give Him our mess, and He makes a masterpiece out of it. And it is because of the mess, not in spite of it. He makes all things beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). We do of course need to make the commitment and then give it to Him for safekeeping.

Father, I want to thank You this morning for Your partnership in the gospel. Thank You Lord it is You who keep me, not myself. Your Word tells me that You are able to save to the uttermost, to make our salvation complete. You who started this work in me, in us, are far more interested in this completion that we could ever be. You do it Lord and then amazingly You turn round and reward us. There is no-one like You our beautiful Lord and Saviour. Give us courage this morning Lord to continue to surrender all so that You may continue to transform us as we gaze into Your lovely face in Jesus Name Amen