Saved by Grace, Called to Serve!

Brothers and sisters, when we consider the greatness of our salvation, we cannot help but stand in awe of the grace of God. Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:9-10 that God "hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."

What a remarkable truth! We are not saved because of our goodness, our efforts, or anything we have accomplished. As Ephesians 2:8 teaches, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Salvation is God's gift. We did not earn it, deserve it, or merit it. Before we ever sought Him, God had already purposed to extend His grace to us through Christ.

This grace was made manifest through the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. At Calvary, Jesus paid the great cost. He gave His life, even unto death on a cross. He took away our shame, defeated our sin, opened the gates of heaven, and invited us into the family of God.

And what a family we have been brought into! Apostle John declares in 1 John 3:1-2:

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God."

We are no longer strangers or outsiders. We are children of God. The world may not understand us because it did not know Him, but our identity is secure in Christ. Even more wonderfully, John tells us that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Our future is glorious because it is bound up in Him.

When these truths take hold of our hearts, they produce a response. Grace is free, but it should never leave us unchanged. The question becomes: How can we respond to such love? What can we give to so faithful a Friend and so loving a King?

The answer is not that we repay Him, for His gift is beyond repayment. Rather, we offer ourselves to Him. We present our lives as living sacrifices. We worship Him in spirit and in truth. We pour out the oil of our love in grateful devotion. We surrender every part of our lives to His service.

As the hymn expresses:

"Jesus, what can I give, what can I bring to so faithful a Friend, to so loving a King?"

Indeed, our words could never fully express the debt of love owed by a thankful heart. Yet we can give Him our obedience, our worship, our service, our time, our gifts, and our whole lives.

Paul himself demonstrated this response. Because of the gospel, he suffered many things, yet he was not ashamed. He endured imprisonment, beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, hunger, thirst, weariness, rejection, and constant persecution for the sake of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-28, Paul recounts being beaten with rods, receiving thirty-nine lashes on multiple occasions, being stoned and left for dead, suffering shipwrecks, facing dangers from robbers and enemies, and enduring many sleepless nights. When he wrote 2 Timothy, he was once again in prison, awaiting execution under the Roman authorities.

Yet despite all these sufferings, Paul could say:

"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." (2 Timothy 1:12)

Why was Paul not ashamed? Because he knew whom he had believed. His confidence was not in circumstances, not in people, and not in himself. His confidence was in Christ. He knew that the Saviour who had called him by grace would also sustain him through suffering and safely keep him until the day of Christ.

Paul understood that the gospel was worth suffering for because Christ was worthy. The grace that saved him was greater than the trials he faced. The hope of eternal glory far outweighed the temporary afflictions of this life.

May we have the same conviction. In a world that constantly changes, let us hold fast to the form of sound words in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Let us stand firm in the gospel of grace. Let us remember who we are—children of God, redeemed by the blood of Christ, destined to be like Him.

And because of His amazing love, let us respond with wholehearted devotion. He deserves our every breath because He paid the greatest price. Let our lives be an offering of worship, gratitude, and faithful service to the One who saved us, called us, and made us His own.

To Him be all glory, honour, and praise.

Amen.