Approved!

Approved!

Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 AMP

The Context and Focus:

Paul, writing to Timothy, his protégé and son in the faith, was speaking from a place of a personal encounter with Jesus. As you read about the life of Paul, it is clear that he was a man who knew and understood the value of private study leading to public impact. Too many times, men want to change the society, impact lives and be recognized, but the issue is always about paying the right price for such impact. You do not get it by public applause or affirmation, or by sheer force of nature or numbers, but by submission and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus, the influence of His Spirit and the daily walk and work required to bring the above to pass. This is why the verse above starts with the advice: 'Study and do your best'. It appears that there are things that God will do, such as supplying grace, strength and wisdom for the work He calls me to, but then there is a working that I am required to contribute in order to bring the fullness of the purpose of God to pass in my life. I have been given the power to choose, and God does not usually override the exercise of my freewill. He has supplied grace, and then he waits for me to put in my best effort, working with all my strength. 

The Message:

What is that best that God expects from me? The verse above says it is 'study' and 'to present myself'. The word 'study' means to 'devote time and attention to gaining knowledge of an academic subject' and 'a detailed investigation and analysis of a subject or situation'. The word 'present' also has multiple meanings, but check out these two: It means 'giving', like a present, as well as 'time', where you can say that the present is right now. These tell me that God is expecting me to offer my life to Him as a gift, as well as doing it at the right time, so He can make full use of my life to achieve His purpose. With God, no life is too far gone to be out of the reach of God's grace, but the natural process of time demands that you can only achieve some things at a particular stage in time in your life. Asking a 90-year old to compete with a prime Usain Bolt for the 100 meters race is an exercise in futility. God will give grace, but with God, there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven, as it has been made quite clear in Ecclesiastes 3: 1: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. 

The Conclusion:

The person to whom Paul was writing was a young man who caught the vision quite early in life, and he was used mightily by God to touch lives, as we see his co-writing the letters to the Philippians, the Colossians, 2 Corinthians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon, and of course, the one that Paul wrote directly to Timothy himself: 1 and 2 Timothy. What would I be remembered for? I am asked to present myself, both as a gift and in time, to God. I note that I am called a 'workman', which is defined as 'a person with specified skill in a job or craft.' It is not a call to do anything anyhow or carelessly, but to do it with skill and precision. I also note that the 'present' comes first before the work I am to do. I must get the order right, so I do not work aimlessly, and without reward. Even while I am seeking God's face to guide me, I have to start right where I have been planted now. Am I applying myself to the work needed in the place where I am right now, or am I waiting for conditions to be right. He who obseves the wind will not sow. The tests will come, as there has to be evidence that I am called, planted and sent out by God. The private work will be made manifest in public impact. Don't seek public acclaim without first seeking private study. It is inner conviction that drives public confession. God's time of favour is here.