The premise for these five lessons is that there are times in our lives when we need to take a second look at our faith and commitment. One of those seasons of life when we should examine our faith is when we are going through difficult times or persecution. One of the first ways we take a “second look” is to pause to reflect upon the calling that God has placed on our lives. Paul encourages Timothy to take that “second look” within the pages of his second letter to Timothy.
It is important to remember the circumstances under which Paul pauses to write a second letter to his ministry companion, Timothy. For years the Roman Empire permitted the followers of Christ to be considered a legal religion. Closely tied to the equally legal Jewish faith, Christianity was considered a “sect” or “denomination” of Judaism, much in the same vein as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes were considered a part of the Jewish faith. But the days following the burning of Rome changed all of that.
Throughout the territories of the Roman Empire, followers of Christ were considered as criminals and enemies of the Empire. Christians were blamed for the setting of the fire that destroyed a large part of the city of Rome. While later historians have all but exonerated the Christians, in the day Christians were jailed and often killed on an attempt to eradicate Christianity from the face of the earth.
Paul calls upon Timothy to not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ or of the life of Paul even though remaining faithful to either was not politically correct and would bear consequences. Circumstances do not catch God by surprise. Throughout Scripture, it is possible to see God’s active involvement in events and how the events are recorded.
It is interesting that the phrase Paul uses to encourage Timothy as he is sitting in a Roman prison is “to not be ashamed” of the gospel. It is the same phrase that he had used years before when he wrote the letter to the Roman Christians helping them anticipate his visit to the city. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God” … (Romans 1:16 NIV). The gospel carries God’s power – not the government’s.
Persecution of your faith can come from institutions – like your work, your education facility, or the government. It can also come from individual – friends, co-workers, or your family. How is your faith being persecuted right now? How does the persecution make you feel? How prepared and equipped are you to withstand the persecution?
Especially during times of persecution, it is important to periodically take a look at the foundations of faith. One of those foundations is God’s calling upon our life. What call has God placed upon your heart? How did you come to experience a spiritual relationship with God and Christ? Who were the people who played a significant role? How has the depth and understanding of your faith changed over the years? How are you better prepared today to face persecution?
The Scripture
So I ask you to make full use of the gift God gave you when I placed my hands on you. Use it well.
2 timothy 1:6 CEV
NIV | 2 Timothy 1:3-10 NIV
ESV | 2 Timothy 1:3-10 ESV
MSG | 2 Timothy 1:3-10 MESSAGE
NASB | 2 Timothy 1:3-10 NASB
HCSB | 2 Timothy 1:3-10 HCSB
NLT | 2 Timothy 1:3-10 NLT
If you know Greek, view the passage in the Nestle’ text: 2 Timothy 1:3-10 Nestle Greek
The Pointe
The student will understand that one way to take a second look at one’s faith is to reexamine the personal call of God. The student can do the examination of God’s calling by:
- putting into concrete words what God is calling you to be.
- reflecting on the circumstances and individuals involved in establishing faith.
- considering the gifts and experiences that God has given you that can strengthen you during times of persecution.
- pondering if there are struggles in life which could be eliminated by adopting a more holy lifestyle.
A Second Look at Your Calling
So let’s take a second look at your calling. What is your calling? What does it mean to be called? Who does the calling? To what are you called? Is it resistible (you can say “no”) or not? Why are these things important to be sure about during persecution? We have some difficult issues to discuss, don’t we?
True and genuine piety is necessary as the first indispensible requisite; whatever ‘call’ a man may pretend to have, if he has not been called to holiness, he certainly has not been called to the ministry.
charles spurgeon
In most circles, someone’s calling and someone’s vocation are essentially the same thing. Both look at a person’s career believing a strong feeling of purpose exists which somehow fulfills them. Many call it destiny or fate that has brought the person to a career path which provides them happiness. Most acknowledge some sort of spiritual connotation to the process.
The word “vocation” adds to our understanding. The word comes from the Latin vocare which means “to call.”
In religious circles, the calling often refers to a sense that God Himself has summoned the individual to serve God in a particular way.
Preacher extraordinaire Charles Spurgeon had much to say about God’s calling into ministry. “If a man be truly called of God to the ministry, I will defy him to withhold himself from it. A man who has really within him the inspiration of the holy ghost calling him to preach cannot help it. He must preach. As fire within the bones, so will that influence be until it blazes forth. Friends may check him, foes criticise him, despisers sneer at him, the man is indomitable; he must preach if he has the call of heaven. All earth might forsake him; but he would preach to the barren mountain-tops. If he has the call of heaven, if he has no congregation, he would preach to the rippling waterfalls, and let the brooks hear his voice. He could not be silent.”
There is a more generic use of the term “calling” in relationship to God. Many preachers and theologians refer to God “calling” someone to follow Him. Consider Jesus “calling” the Twelve to follow Him in ministry. Most often Christians refer to the “calling” as God placing on the heart the need to give full-time service to Him through the career choice. Preachers, clergy, missionaries, nuns and priests often speak of their calling into ministry.
The Setting of the Call
When we speak of God “calling” someone, our mind is immediately filled with questions. How does God “call” an individual? Does God use an audible voice? How does one know if this is truly God calling? How can one discern the calling? Am I destined to follow this call even if the path seems difficult? Although the questions are very objective, the answers become increasingly subjective.
Ultimately, the calling of God is tied to an understanding of God’s will or purpose for our lives. The questions then become broader and more inclusive: Whom should I marry? Where should I live? What job should I take? Are there biblical insights that we can share on how we can determine God’s will for our lives – His calling – in these specific areas? Here are a handful of observations.
Time in the Desert
While we can become aware of God’s calling anywhere and in a variety of circumstances, many times God calls us when we are spending time alone, thinking and pondering God’s involvement in our lives. Moses spent time in the desert as he prepared for God’s calling. Jesus spent 40 days in the desert as He prepared for ministry. Believers through the centuries can attest to the importance of spending time alone with God, waiting for His direction and guidance.
There are times when God’s direction is accompanied by a significant event. Moses discovered a burning bush during his time in the desert. But Elijah did not find God in the earthquake or the mighty wind, bur rather found Him quietly in the whisper.
Often our time spent in the desert allows us to contemplate about the people and the circumstances that were involved in our original calling. In our passage, Paul reminds Timothy that the depth of his faith was nurtured and encouraged by his mother and grandmother. Paul himself played a role in Timothy’s faith and ministry through mentoring and imparting spiritual gifts.
Another way to contemplate the calling during time in the desert involves spending time in the Word of God. The Word is an excellent way to work through understanding God’s will and purpose. Listen to what Paul writes to the Romans.
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 HCSB
- Where is your “desert” place – the place where you can be alone, waiting for God? What are the settings? How often do you find yourself there? What things have you learned in the desert?
- Who have been the significant people in your life whom you have trusted and listened to regarding important spiritual circumstances in your life?
When you spend time each morning reading and studying the Bible, you are then able to discern – test, understand, approve – what the will of God is for your life. The only way you can consistently and constantly hear God’s voice is to intimately know the voice He has given you in His Bible.
Hearing the Voice of God
How do you hear the voice of God through the Bible? Since we mentioned that the answer becomes more subjective, let me give you to personal examples of how I hear the voice of God.
There are times when I hear a sermon preached that it feels as if the preacher is purposely stepping on my toes. Everything that is said seems to be speaking directly to my situation. Passages of the Scripture seem to contain meaning and application that I never realized before, even though I may have studied the verses often. I often hear the voice of God through the voice of others whom I respect and trust.
The same thing happens when I study the Bible myself. I look at a passage of Scripture through the lens of my circumstances. “That verse has my name written all over it.” I become convinced of my own sins and commit to doing something about changing my behavior.
Henry Blackaby wrote, “The willingness to obey every word from God is critical to hearing God speak.” Dallas Willard once said, “We live at the mercy of our ideas. This is never more true than with our ideas about God. Scripture corrects our mistaken assumptions about God. The more time we spend with the word, the more we are inspired to cultivate a corresponding faith.
A.W. Tozer asks, “If you do all the talking when you pray, how will you ever hear God’s answers?”
- Begin writing things down in a journal so that you can reflect back on things later. Make journaling a regular part of your schedule – monthly, weekly, daily. Read a passage of Scripture and ask, “What is your will for my life?”
- All of us have pain and struggles in our past. How can God use the pain of your past to bring about good today?
- What things would you do for God if you knew that you couldn’t fail? What step would you take toward making that “dream” happen?
- Are there Bible verses that you go to when you are trying to determine God’s will for your life? What verses help you the most?
- Are there things in your life that are holding you back from living out your calling? What are those things? What steps can you take to break free from these shackles that stand in your way?
- A.W. Tozer wrote, “The man or woman who is wholly or joyously surrendered to Christ cannot make a wrong choice. Any choice will be the right one.” Do you agree or disagree with that?
Satan’s Schemes
It isn’t guaranteed in the Bible, but it certainly makes sense. If you are alone in the desert and you are contemplating God’s will in your life, expect Satan to focus his schemes on you.
If you are contemplating your commitment to God and your involvement in ministry, you can bet that Satan is not far from your presence. What do we know about the way that Satan comes to tempt and lead us astray? Here are some observations:
- Satan is a deceiver at his very heart. He deceives by promising things that he cannot actually deliver. He also makes you believe that you will not get caught.
- Satan distorts the truth of Scripture. He knows God’s word well enough to manipulate it.
- Satan creates doubt. He creates doubt on two fields. First, he strives to have you doubt God – doubt what He says, doubt His power, and even doubt His existence. He also raises doubt inside you about God’s unconditional love for you. Surely, there is a catch to grace. Surely, you cannot really be forgiven.
As you take a second look at the foundations of your faith, spend some time remembering your calling and how you came to faith in Christ. Recall the people and the circumstances that shaped your faith. Be aware of the spiritual battle taking place over your commitment to Christ. Reaffirm the godly truths upon which you have established your life.
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