Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,—2 Timothy 1:8-9
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.—2 Timothy 2:1
But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!—2 Timothy 4:17-18
As believers, God has saved us and called us with a holy calling…not because of anything we have done or any personal merit…but He has saved us for His own purpose and grace which was granted to us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Our life has been set apart for His divine purposes. We are not our own. We belong to Him and He has given us every grace to do what He has called us to do. That is good news because there are, frankly, many times when I feel overwhelmed and insufficient for any of it. It is good to remember that I am NOT sufficient for it…not even remotely. But HE is. He is my God who performs all things for me and makes perfect that which concerns me. I can by His Spirit relax and surrender knowing that My sufficiency is in Him…knowing that He will complete that good work He began in me and continue to perfect and complete it until the time of His return. I can return to my rest because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Beloved…Fulfill your ministry. Stand strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The Lord your God stands with you and strengthens you so that His purposes will be fulfilled. He will deliver you from every evil work and preserve you for His heavenly kingdom.
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."—1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."—Deuteronomy 31:6
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.—Ephesians 2:8-10
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.—Romans 8:28
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.—Ephesians 1:1-6
