Verse: 2 Timothy 1: 9-12
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
Devotion
Isn’t one of the top questions for little kids always “what do you want to be when you grow up”? Kids have so much excitement at the endless possibilities as they rattle off astronaut, basketball player, police officer, actor. One of my kids currently lists his future occupations as author, inventor, cast technician, and then when he’s 40 he plans to switch over to being a pastor. As my other kids have gotten older, I’ve seen their occupational plans become more toned down and more “realistic”. The world creeps in and tones down some of their big dreams.
It’s interesting to read this passage from Paul and wonder what he thought he would be when he grew up. Obviously, the options weren’t as extensive as our choices today, but it seems safe to say he probably didn’t ever expect to find himself in the situation he is in in 2 Timothy when he imagined his career path. In jail, again, writing his last letter to Timothy after an unexpected career in ministry. He was basically alone and facing death. And yet, his focus is not on the unknowns but the known. He knows who he believes in and that God has whatever is to come handled.
We all have a ministry, whether it is one we expected or not. It could be in your workplace or your kid’s school. It could be around your dinner table. God has so many options of ways we can be in ministry to others. Sometimes it is discouraging when that ministry doesn’t go the way we expect. But, like Paul, we can remind ourselves of who we believe in and that God is bigger than whatever setbacks we experience whether that happens around the board room table or dinner table. We can take another reminder from Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:1 when he says “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart”. We don’t lose heart and we remember who we believe in.
Author: Kristen Perso
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