"This is a Trustworthy saying" #3

2 Timothy 2:11-13 shows one of the duties to which the chosen people are called; we are ordained to suffer for Christ with the promise that “If we die with Him” we shall also “live with Him” "if we endure hardship,” we shall also “reign with Him."

2 Timothy 2:11-13 11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him.
12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

God is faithful to His children.  Remember what God’s Word says about the trials we face

1 Peter 1:7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold — and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So, if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

We will have hard times, some harder than others and God promises that someday we will live eternally with Him.  This involves us, believers in Christ Jesus, living with Christ in His Kingdom sharing in the administration of His Kingdom.  This is comforting especially in time of trials/persecution. Trustworthy and true is that we will “live with Him” and “reign with Him” as we endure and persevere.  It is faith in Jesus Christ that gives us victory.

1 John 5:4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

We do not fear the enemies, for He has already conquered them. Through our identification with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection, we have won the victory (see Romans 6).
What a pair of paradoxes! Death leads to life! Suffering leads to reigning in glory! We have nothing to fear!

The important thing is that we not "disown" our Lord; for if we disown Him here, He will disown us before the Father
Matthew 10:33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

In that great "roll call" in glory, when the "prizes" are given out, we will lose our reward if we disown His name.

Oh, the Scriptures make it clear (vs 13) that even our own doubt and unbelief cannot change Him: "He remains faithful; for He cannot deny who He is."

We do not put faith in our faith or in our feelings because they will change and fail. We put our faith in Christ Jesus, who has “overcome the world.” (John 16:33) 

The great missionary, J. Hudson Taylor, often said, "It is not by trying to be faithful, but in looking to the Faithful One, that we win the victory."

May we embrace this “trustworthy saying” and persevere through all the trials and hardships of life and stand firm in the power of the Holy Spirit if/when persecution comes our way. May our faith be found “strong and pure.”