Able to Keep

When I was young, any verse I came across that was already familiar from a hymn we sang was instantly special to me, simply for its familiarity. I think that is how 2 Timothy 1:12 initially gained significance for me. But as I grew, so did my understanding of the verse, and I came to appreciate it, not just for its familiarity, but because of what it means.

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”

I have written on this verse several times over the years, but as I was reading it the other day, something stood out to me in a new way.

As Christians, there are many things we commit to the Lord each day. It may be our safety or that of our loved ones, it may be a future we are trusting God to bring about in His perfect time. It may be our hopes, dreams, fears, joys, sorrows, or simply our old beat-up car that needs to get us somewhere important without breaking down on the way. There are many things, big and small, that God wants us to trust Him with.

We tend to think that committing things to God is only for the big stuff, but if you read the life stories of Christians like Corrie Ten Boom who have endured unusually hard things for the sake of Christ, you will see that their “big” trials and distresses were made up of small moments. All need to be committed to God.

2 Peter 4:19 applies this in the context of persecution:

“Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

But the point I want to make today is that, whatever it is we have committed to Him, whatever God has held his hands out for us to relinquish, He is able to keep. You see, as the saved in Christ, we have access to the same confidence Paul had, that God is able to keep that which He calls us to commit to Him.

That word keep has the idea of keeping watch, being on guard. When God calls us to commit something into His keeping, there is with the call an implicit promise that God Himself will watch over, guard, or protect that thing. Perhaps it is a dream He knows needs to be surrendered to Him so that you can pursue Him wholeheartedly. He is still able to “keep” it, perhaps keeping it safe until He knows the time is right, perhaps keeping it safely out of your reach because He knows it would harm you. God is able to keep it—and you!

So, dear Reader, what is it that God is calling you to commit into His keeping today? Is it a loved one? Health? Safety? A specific need? A hope or dream? Whatever it is, give it to God. He is well able to keep it, until the day of His timing, or until you step into eternity.

Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.

1 Thessalonians 5:24