Commitment

 

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. (2 Timothy 1:5 KJV)

A grandmother, a mother, both committed to themselves to teach a child their faith - and Paul saw in the youth what they taught him.

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 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. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. (2 Timothy 1:11-14 KJV)

Paul saw in Timothy the ability to do what Paul was doing - to tell others what Paul believed, how he was persuaded that God could keep what Paul had commited to Him, no matter how things appeared to be going wrong. 

For Paul, men would think things had gone terribly wrong, for he was in prison in Rome for the second time. Soon, Timothy would hear that Paul had been executed. Christian persecution had changed during Paul's lifetime - now Romans wanted Christians gone as much as Jews had wanted Christ gone.

Paul had made a commitment to God after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul knew God had made a commitment to Him, too:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18 KJV)

Prior to that trip to Damascus, Paul believed he had to earn the right to know God. He had to keep every commandment that God had given Moses, plus the interpretation given by Pharisees as to how to keep them when there was the slightest question of "How do I keep this law, because . . ." Basically, because all of us are looking for away around one of the Commandments.

Through Christ's cruxification, we no longer make blood sacrifices for our sinfulness. Believe me, we all are sinful. Psul knew that, too:

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:19-24 KJV)

I highlighted verse 23 simply because no one here on earth is capable of keeping all of God's laws. Even as a man after God's own heart, David's sinfulness is written in the Bible for all to read. And his plea after all knew it:

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:9-10 KJV)

David had a contrite heart, and that's what he offered:

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalms 51:16-17 KJV)

Each of the people above knew God and made commitment to Him because He kept commitments. Believe Him. He is worthy.