Devotional Thought : 2 Timothy 1:9

“…who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” 2 Timothy 1:9

Christianity is different to other religions. Some religions are based on people performing certain rites and ceremonies. But I wonder why a god would be pleased, or even notice?

Other religions are based on a person’s ability to behave in certain ways, or abstain from certain activities. Again, why would a god be impressed by such activities? These religions are based on a very small concept of god.

The one true God tells us he is not impressed with our good activities— “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) and he is not always impressed with our ceremonies—“your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates” (Isaiah 1:13-14). We don’t impress God by our behaviour or our activities. So what does get God’s attention? What did Jesus notice? When Jesus was on earth the thing that impressed him was people expressing faith. People like the centurion (Matthew 8:10-11) and the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:28).

This verse in Timothy tells us that we are not saved by anything we have done but rather we are saved by what God has done. We cannot impress God by our good works or our performances, but we can honour God by our faith. When we trust in God despite all the obstacles and circumstances, He is pleased.

Satan’s complaint concerning Job was, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” (Job 1:9). Job continued to trust in God when there was no earthly reason to do so and won a decisive victory over Satan.

Likewise let’s choose to trust God whatever we are called to face.