Trust in a Faithful God
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in continual godliness, that through your protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly serve you in good works, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
(Anglican Book of Common Prayer, Proper 22)
2 Timothy 1:3-14 NRSV
I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.
John of Damascus[1]
Before all things, keep the truth which is committed to your trust, the holy Word of faith by which you have been taught and instructed. And let no weeds of heresy grow up among you, but preserve the heavenly seed pure and sincere, that it may yield a great harvest to the master, when he comes to demand account of our lives. He shall reward us according to our deeds, when the righteous shall shine forth as the sun, but darkness and everlasting shame shall cover the sinners.
George W. Knight
From all eternity God purposed our salvation and set in place his gracious plan to save us in Christ Jesus. In history that plan is now made known in “the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus”. By his suffering and death, he “destroyed death” and by his resurrection he brought “life and immortality” to us through the gospel message. On the road to Damascus Paul was appointed to proclaim that gospel as an authoritative spokesman and to apply its truths. Appointment to such a gospel ministry resulted in his present suffering and imprisonment. But Paul is “not ashamed” (with the implication that Timothy should not be), because he is confident of God’s ability to deliver him from death and keep his life for eternity.[2]
Warren Wiersbe
The Spirit does not generate fear in us, but rather power, love, and discipline (sound mind, self-control). Every Christian needs all three! The Holy Spirit is the power of our lives. Paul uses this word “power” in all of his letters except the one to Philemon. The Spirit also gives us love, for the fruit of the Spirit is love. Our love for Christ, for the Word, for other believers, and for the lost, must come from the Spirit. The Spirit also gives us discipline and self-control; as a result we are not easily captured by our feelings or circumstances. When the Spirit is in control, we will experience peace and poise, and fear and cowardice will vanish.[3]
While morn awakes with wondrous light, we come to thee, O Lord, in prayer; guard thou and guide our steps aright and keep us in thy holy care.
Lord, let our tongues be free from blame, nor utter words of guilt or strife; lift up our eyes from deeds of shame, and all the vanities of life.
Our hearts be purged and purified that naught of evil shall remain; from worldly vice and fleshly pride our souls by temperance restrain.
So keep us, Lord, from evil free, till fades in dusk the sunset flame, that we unstained may come to thee and sin the glories of thy name.
(Ambrose)[4]
My Labor is Not In Vain
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
[1] Ancient Christian Devotional Year C, pp. 230-231.
[2] George W. III Knight, “1-2 Timothy/Titus,” in Evangelical Commentary on the Bible, vol. 3, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995), 1110.
[3] Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 642–643.
[4] Ancient Christian Devotional Year C, p. 232.
