2 Timothy 1.1-14
Encouraging Timothy to use the gifts given him by God and to not be hesitant in sharing the Gospel, Paul reminded him of God’s gracious work which brought us salvation. Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began (2 Timothy 1.9). Knowing our salvation is the work of God, knowing He chose us to be His own, knowing all He does is good, knowing He is ever faithful to Himself and His Word, knowing He has gifted us and enabled us to serve Him, may we humbly rejoice in our salvation, in our deliverance from condemnation to justification, and in our release from hopelessness to true hope, now and eternally.
The Lord has saved us, and this is not our accomplishment. He cleansed us through the shed blood of Jesus Christ from the vile trap of sin and Satan; He came to us when we were dead in sin and made us alive in Christ; He indwelt us by His Holy Spirit and gave us the gift of faith. Our Lord redeemed us and gave us a holy charge. This is our calling to walk as a child of God, a representative of the King of kings, an heir of the eternal kingdom; this is our calling to live free of sin and serve our Lord, to live as the sanctified person He has made us to be. The Lord has saved us according to His purpose and grace. Our salvation was not our idea, it did not spring from our desire, it did not transpire because we thought it right. This is the Lord’s salvation; this is His gracious work to give us the very opposite of what we rightly deserved; this is the fulfillment of His eternal purpose and sovereign design; this flows from His heart of love and mercy. Before the beginning of time, our Lord chose us to be in Christ, He planned our salvation, He determined our lives with purpose. May our response be filled with thankfulness and a heart-rooted resolve to live as we have been called, bringing glory to His Holy Name.
Expand, my soul, arise and sing
The matchless grace of Zion’s King;
His love, as ancient as His name,
Let all thy powers aloud proclaim.
Chosen of old, of old approved,
In Christ eternally beloved;
Adopted too, and children made,
Ere sin its baleful poison spread.
Though sin and guilt infest them here,
In Christ they all complete appear;
The whole that justice e’er demands
Received full payment from His hands.
In Him the father never saw
The least transgression of His law;
Perfection, then, in Him we view;
His saints in Him are perfect too.
Then let our souls in Him rejoice,
As favoured objects of His choice;
Redeemed, and saved by grace, we sing
Eternal praise to Christ our King.
F. Bland Tucker
Saved and called – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry
My Morning Desk 