Persuaded

October 10

Jeremiah 11-12

Psalm 112:6-10

Proverbs 24:23-25

2 Timothy 1

Persuaded

“But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.”  2 Timothy 1:12 HCSB

I love this passage.  When I was a little girl, we sang this verse in a hymn and it has stuck with me all these years.  It is not talking about knowing facts about God or about knowing all the Bible stories and being able to quote verses about Him.  This verse is talking about knowing God in a personal, intimate way.  Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter.  He had suffered beatings, starvation, shipwreck, and chains for the sake of the gospel.  He boldly continued to preach Christ everywhere he went.  He was not ashamed of the message because he knew it was the truth.  He was completely persuaded because he knew the One that he believed in.  He didn’t just have head knowledge about Him; he had heart knowledge of Him.  He had spent time getting to know Jesus through prayer and studying scripture.  Jesus had been with him during those beatings, when he was shipwrecked, and in chains in prison.  Paul knew he could trust Jesus with whatever might happen in his future, because He had never let him down before.  He had never left his side and had given him the strength to deal with everything that had happened to him.  Jesus had proven Himself to be faithful.  The more we know Jesus and His character, the easier it is to trust His Word.  Whenever we find ourselves doubting and afraid, the best thing we can do is spend more time getting to know Him better.  He will prove Himself faithful to us as well. 

This old hymn expresses it well. “I Know Whom I Have Believed.”16

I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known,

Nor why unworthy, Christ in love redeemed me for His own. 

But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day. 

I know not how this saving faith to me He did impart,

Nor how believing in His Word wrought peace within my heart

But I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.

I know not how the Spirit moves, convincing us of sin,

Revealing Jesus through the Word, creating faith in Him.

But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.

I know not when my Lord may come, at night or noonday fair,

Nor if I walk the vale with Him, or meet Him in the air,

But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.