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 NKJV
The aged apostle Paul writes this from prison to encourage Timothy, his son in the faith. It was a time when the public testimony to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ was in great distress, and Paul wrote that all in Asia had turned away from him. Now Timothy was discouraged and ready to give up. He felt all alone. His tears of grief due to the conditions around him proved that his faith was genuine, but Timothy’s spiritual gift needed to be rekindled. Timothy needed help.
Have you ever felt like giving up? What is the use? No one cares! Our discouragement also becomes contagious and passes easily and quickly to others. What should we do? The solution to this problem is not found by looking within ourselves, as though the answer is there. Instead, take a look at 1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Yes, He knows, He understands, He cares! Then take a look at Hebrews 12:12–13: “Strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”
The Holy Spirit ever directs our eyes to our God and Father. We are saved and called with a holy calling according to His own purpose and grace. All has been given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages of time. This sums up the glorious testimony of the Lord for whom and by whom we have been sent into this world where He was rejected. We have been sent to show forth the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.