Reflections on TruthSample

Here is an important truth to reflect upon: God hasn’t predetermined your future usefulness to him, as if you had no choice. Certainly, God knows your future. God will also already have planned good things for you on the basis of knowing your heart and future choices. However, the free will he gave you is real. The choices we make affect things. This is an important truth.

Today’s verse sits in a powerful chapter of instructions to Timothy. Paul calls the younger Timothy to join him in serving God like a soldier in an army – or an athlete desiring to win. He is calling Timothy to complete devotion! But what point is our devotion if God has already predetermined everything in our lives? What difference might being more devoted make?

Within his illustrations, Paul calls him to avoid being ‘entangled in civilian affairs’ – avoiding godless chatter and quarreling around words. Timothy is to instead present himself as one who is worthy of a high calling, as measured by two general things that I see mentioned in this chapter. One is his speech and conduct, while the other is the way he is able to handle the word of truth.

It is clear from the inferences throughout this chapter that the way we choose to live, and also the way we either do or don’t honour God’s word in our lives, can affect our future opportunities.

If you could open a Bible right now please, have a read of the illustration Paul gives in verses 20 and 21, which reflect this point most clearly. Paul is saying that God hasn’t predetermined your level of usefulness in the Kingdom. The way you or I live, and also the regard we give to the word of God, directly affect our usefulness. As in verse 21, “Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”

In response, please never doubt that living in a way that honours God is worth your every effort. Also, please never underestimate the importance of honouring God’s Word – through which God speaks to, instructs, and trains us. Our choices in these areas shape our usefulness to him. These are truths to reflect upon and remember.