This foundation

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” - 2 Timothy 2.19

I think it is interesting when we read things like 'the foundation of God stands.' That tells me that there is something pretty important here. This is vital. This is a foundational truth.

When I read that I figure I ought to pay special attention. We read that here and then we read 'it has this seal.'

What is the seal of this foundational truth?

The Lord knows those who are His.

Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

I can see why these are so important. One of them speaks about who God is and the other about what we should do.

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who trust in Him. You have tested me O Lord and You know all about me. My sheep are known by Me.

When we belong to God we can rest in assurance that He knows us. He knows all about us. He knows our 'down sittings and our uprising.' He knows our thoughts He knows every word of our mouths.

What comfort it is that God well and truly knows what we are going through. When we think that nobody gets it - God does. At the moment we are going through what is, in the light of so much, a minor struggle. But even now it is nice to know that God does know.

He knows us - so what do we do?

Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from evil.

God knows us - and because God knows ue we ought to demonstrate His knowledge of us by departing from evil.

That's putting it pretty simply isn't it? It is our job to simply leave evil aside. Remember Job - the man who feared God and eschewed evil? From the very start the people that God knows stay away from evil. Like Joseph, when sin is knocking at our door we flee run it. Timothy was told to flee from youthful lusts.

We ought to be grateful that we have a God who loves us.

We ought to show our gratitude by our rejection of evil