WHEN YOU KNOW WHOM YOU HAVE BELIEVED!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY JANUARY 02, 2023.

SUBJECT: WHEN YOU KNOW WHOM YOU HAVE BELIEVED!

Memory verse: "For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day." (Second Timothy 1 vs 12.)

READ: Romans 8 vs 38 - 39:

838: For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,

8:39: nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

INTIMATION:

How many of us can proudly say, "I know Whom I have believed." When you know whom you have believed, you become unstoppable, your confidence in Him is unshakable. Our memory verse was written when the apostle Paul was in prison, but that did not stop his ministry. He carried it on through others like his spiritual son Timothy. He had lost all his material possessions, but he would never lose his faith. He trusted God to use him regardless of his circumstances. 

He so trusted God that he was not bothered about his bleak situation. He gave all his concerns to Christ, trusting Him to guard his faith and safely guard all he has entrusted to Him until the day of His return. In spite of the suffering that might have caused him to despair, he affirmed his confidence in God’s protection. This was not a claim of strong faith; rather, it was a trust in One so powerful that even a weak faith was sufficient. Hence Christ said, “If your faith is a small as a mustard seed,” it comes with tremendous power in Him.

Paul based his confidence in Christ on his intimate relationship with Him. He knew the One he trusted with personal knowledge; he knew Christ so well that no earthly experience could break the bond of love by which Christ held him. Paul had an in-depth knowledge of Christ and His earth walk. He knew Christ better than other apostles because he knew Christ in the spirit, as he was arrested by Spirit Jesus.

Christians have always had to face various unfavorable life’s circumstances. These sometimes cause them to fear that they have been abandoned by Christ. But in the passages we read today, the apostle Paul exclaims that it is impossible to be separated from Christ. His death for us is proof of His unconquerable love. Nothing can separate us from Christ’s presence. God tells us how great His love is so that we will feel totally secure in Him. If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will not be afraid.

The Scripture, in Romans 5 vs 3 - 4, says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, Character; and character; hope.” God’s thoughts for us is of good, hence He gives us richly all things to enjoy (First Timothy 6 vs 17). Our future in Christ is excellently superb, but we have to overcome now to become later what He has in stock for us. This means we will experience difficulties that help us grow. 

When suffering comes our way, we rejoice, not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know whom we have believed and trusted, and He is using life’s difficulties and Satan’s attacks to build our character. The problems that we run into will develop our perseverance; which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God, and give us greater confidence about the future. You probably find your patience tested in some way every day. Thank God for those opportunities to grow, and deal with them in His strength.

The apostle James counsels us in James 1 vs 2 - 4, saying, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. You can’t really say, “I know whom I have believed” until trials come, and your reactions to them are weighed.

Many Christians when facing trials may even begin to question God, “God where are You?” “You can’t be on Your Throne and I am going through this situation.” In my considered opinion, such comments come from those who do not know whom they believed, For If they know, they will realize that “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8 vs 28). God cannot be in any other place than His Throne. He is an “All knowing God,” and knows all about you and your circumstances, and in all these things you are a conqueror through Him who loves you. (Romans 8 vs 37.)

Prayer: Abba Father, Your love for me is unquestionable, undeniable, and unfathomable. What You cannot do for me, let it remain undone. What You cannot give me, let me never have it. Give me the grace to never shift my focus from You because I know Whom I believed, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD!