"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even thought I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief."
As I set out with my two verses in my head this morning, I didn't think much of them. At first they simply seemed to me another acknowledgement of Paul's sinful past and God's grace to him, but then I started to spend a good deal of time wondering "Why is Paul saying this to Timothy". Paul is not just waxing nostalgic here, he is trying to say something to Timothy. I then realized this statement, while about Paul, wasn't so much for Paul as it was for Timothy. Paul wanted to remind Timothy that God in his great mercy appoints us to his service.
God's appointment to service is not out of our merit (as Paul describes his situation before his call), but out of his good pleasure and mercy. Out of his good pleasure and calling, Timothy has been given this position of leadership.
At first, verse 12 tripped me up a bit as it seems to say that because of Paul's faithfulness, he was given his position of service to God. Yet verse 13 cleared this up for me as Paul is clear that he was in no way deserving of his call and it was only because of God's grace in his condition of ignorance and unbelief. (Paul sees them as the same)
The faithfulness he refers to in verse 12 I think relates to the strengthening God gives as Timothy continues faithfully in his appointed service. Timothy can be guaranteed that the faithful servant will be strengthened as God continues to appoint him to his service. Paul is encouraging Timothy of the abundant strength available for the monumental task set before this young minister as he follows through with his calling.
This was encouraging to me as I realized that my application is that this strength is available to all faithful believers as they pursue God's calling in their life. As we seek to enjoy him daily and seek his glory he will strenghten us for the often monumental tasks set before us.
In these verses, I also think Paul is reminding Timothy why he is in this position. Again it is not because of him. Timothy does not have to rely on or live up to any strengths he has to accomplish this task. God has set him here. Timothy is not here because of Timothy, but because of God. Timothy does not need to worry about his youthfulness or his limitations because it is not about him! Like Paul, before his appointing, there is nothing in Timothy that "qualifies" him for this task other then the calling of God. Paul is saying look at my credentials, be encouraged human credentials are not required here only a faithful heart. There is nothing that allows him to carry out the task other then the daily promise of the daily strength provided for the faithful servant.
Let me remember this God, I never have to live up to the thought of "I was" or "I have" or "I can". It's not about what I bring to the table or expectations I need to live up to as I come to the task. It's not about my strenghts or worthiness. I don't need to live up to any expectations I set on myself or those other set for me. The believer need not bind himself to his own expectations of what he should accomplish. The believer comes empty handeded. Trusting daily strength will be given by him who created the task and whom the task is dedicated.
I find myself so often in life thinking myself an expert in an area or educated to say the least. This is of little importance in your calling. You choose the weak and despised things of the world. You choose the persecutor, You choose the young. You choose me and yet it is only about You. Let me think more of you and less of me daily as I try to live out my great calling.
As I walked, I praised God that for a time he has led me to place where the flowers bloom in Mid-January and the bitterness of cold never prevails!
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