Bible Reading: Nehemiah 2: 2 Timothy 4: 17-22
“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto the heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” – 2 Timothy 4:18 (KJV).
It is encouraging to know that God is not only involved in our salvation but also in the preservation of the Christian life. God does not just save us only to abandon us to sort out our lives. He is involved from the inception to the consummation.
Most times, people begin a thing and abandon it half way, people can offer to help us but back out along the way but God never abandons us. Through the rough times and the smooth times, through the thick and thin, his ever abiding presence is there to help us.
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” – Hebrews 13:5 (KJV). The presence and power of God preserves us. We do not have the ability to preserve our lives, God does and he is committed to our preservation. God preserves us from sin, sickness and servitude. He preserves us from death; he preserves us in righteousness and peace. He is committed to preserving our relationship and fellowship with him.
The devil’s intent is to steal our joy, hope, peace and love but God gives us life in abundance, His joy is our strength. Often times we get discouraged and despair of hope but he comes in with his word and the Holy Spirit to comfort and encourage us, this he does because he is committed to our preservation. When God saves, he saves completely.
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” – Hebrews 7:25 (KJV). Jesus carries out his priestly and intercessory ministry for us even at the right hand of the father. He pleads on the behalf of believers as against the ongoing work of the devil to discredit us before God by his continuous accusation of the believers. Satan’s mission is to destroy our relationship with God but Jesus destroys the work of satan and preserves us so he can present us before his heavenly father on the last day.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for your preserving grace.
Rev. Vincent Diolu