Secure In Service To and Suffering For the Gospel

2 Timothy 1:11-12

2 Timothy 1:11-12

For which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

Have you ever packaged a fragile glass item for shipment? Or, conversely, maybe you’ve received a glass package with a warning tape or label that says “fragile, handle with care” somewhere on the package. As someone who has worked in a bookstore, the packaging of glass and fragile items requires a lot of care and cushioning. This extra care and cushioning is necessary in order to limit the movement and jiggling of the glass in its container, and thus provide complete security and stability for the glass during transportation. If the glass isn’t snugly fitted and secure in its receptacle, then the sender runs the risk of too much movement and jiggling during transportation, which will likely end up in the delivery of harmed and damaged goods. The cushioning of the wrapping paper and bubble wrap with the glass play a crucial role in providing proper security and stability, ensuring that the product is preserved, protected, and unharmed until it arrives at its destination.

Now, though this analogy is flawed, we too as Christians need preservation and protection until we arrive at our destination— eternity in glory with our God. If we think of our faithfulness to Christ as glass, and the suffering we endure in this world as the package, then what would be the cushioning and care that keeps us safe and secure till we arrive at our destination? Or in other words, what can enable us to be secure in our suffering?

In 2 Timothy 1:11-12, Paul highlights important truths that enable him to be secure in his suffering and cushioned amidst the turbulent chaos of living in this world. So if we want to learn how to be secure in our suffering, and want to know how to keep our glass preserved until delivery, we ought to take heed and observe his words.

Picking up from verse 10 for an accurate perception of the flow of thought Paul says, “and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher.” Notice how verse 11 begins with for, indicating to us the continuation or explanation of a previous thought. The link between these verses is seen in that Paul has been appointed a preacher, apostle, and teacher of the gospel. The word preacher in the original Greek is kēryx, which means herald or proclaimer. The word apostle in the Greek is apostolos, and means messenger, delegate, or, he who is sent. The word teacher in the Greek is didaskalos which means instructor, master, or teacher. Add to the end of all these the phrase of the gospel, and we see that Paul is saying that he has been appointed, chosen by God and set aside to be a herald of the gospel, messenger of the gospel, and instructor of the gospel. Notice how central the gospel is to Paul’s summons into ministry and his service in ministry. The gospel is everything!

This same glorious gospel however causes suffering. Paul says in verse 12a, “which is why I suffer as I do.” Notice again how the word which indicates to us a transition and/or continuation in thought. Paul, here, is showing us that the same gospel he has been summoned to be a minister of, is the same gospel that he has been called to suffer for. Later in 2 Timothy 2:8-9 Paul says, “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. (emphasis added). Suffering is an inevitable inclusion in the package of faithful service to the gospel. However, despite the unavoidable suffering that accompanies being a herald, messenger, and instructor of the gospel, Paul is not ashamed, which he makes clear in the rest of verse 12 which says, “But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” What enables Paul to be secure in his service to and suffering for the gospel? The God of the gospel. Paul’s total confidence in God (for I know whom I have believed), leads to the creation of an unwavering conviction (and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me) that the God who summoned Him to serve and suffer for the gospel, will be faithful to preserve him until the end. Paul’s confidence and conviction in his security rests not in his ability to endure to persevere but in the ability of His God, the one who is faithful when we are faithless, and who cannot deny Himself because of His relentless passion for the glory of His name. (2 Tim 2:13, Isaiah 42:8, 48:11).

“Paul’s total confidence in God (for I know whom I have believed), leads to the creation of an unwavering conviction (and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me) that the God who summoned Him to serve and suffer for the gospel, will be faithful to preserve him until the end.”

This is so encouraging for us as believers. Because whether we realize it or not, we are called to be heralds, messengers, and instructors of the gospel. While most of us may not fulfill our gospel calling within the context of pastoral ministry, all of us, if we are in Christ, have been called to both proclaim the gospel through our lives and our lips. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commands and commissions us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that He has commanded us. God has called us all to be ministers and heralds of the gospel! Our summons is unambiguous. And yet still, we must remember that gospel-proclamation promises gospel-persecution. A summons to be in service for the gospel, is a summons to suffer for the gospel. But as Jesus reminds us, though suffering is unavoidable, we can take heart, for He has overcome the world! (John 16:33). We can have peace, confidence, and an unwavering conviction knowing that our ability to endure in suffering for the sake of the gospel rests not in us, but in the sure and steadfast character of our God.

“We can have peace, confidence, and an unwavering conviction knowing that our ability to endure in suffering for the sake of the gospel rests not in us, but in the sure and steadfast character of our God.”

Therefore, today let us be thankful that we can be secure in our service to and suffering for the gospel. To end with the passage mentioned earlier, 2 Timothy 2:11-13 says, “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” Praise God that we can be secure in Christ Jesus. Truly His grace gives us all we need to faithfully endure in suffering for the sake of the gospel. May His grace and gospel be the cushioning that keeps the glass of our faithfulness secure until we meet our final end. Amen!