In our text for the morning, 2 Tim. 1:11-12, Paul shows us what real thanksgiving looks like. Paul is in a dungeon, chained to a Roman guard. It is dark down in that hole. He can barely see well enough to write. He thinks back over thirty years as an apostle, teacher and preacher.

Most of us in such a situation would have felt sorry for ourselves. Can’t you hear us now, crying out, “Lord, you certainly have a strange way of showing your love for your servants. I have sacrificed and suffered for you all over two continents. What do I get for it? I’m locked up in this hole, and I’ll probably be executed within a month. Thanks a lot!”

But that’s not what Paul said. Instead, he declared, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel.” Then he gives two reasons for his confidence, even in a dungeon, even face to face with death. If we can claim these same two reasons, we can celebrate real thanksgiving this week.

First, said Paul,

I Can Be Confident Because I Know God Personally.

There is a huge difference between knowing about God and knowing God. Even the devil knows about God, and trembles because of what he knows. To know God personally is to love and serve Him as Savior, leader, counselor and friend.

Several months ago I attended a conference in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colo. Of course, I managed to find a free afternoon to try out a new golf course in the area. I was placed in a foursome with three men from the local area. One of them, John, was a retired math teacher at a private school.

When he found out that I am a pastor, he said, “I believe in God but I don’t go to church. I try to live by the Ten Commandments. Throughout my career I tried to influence our students toward good morals. I guess you could say that I am a Christian with a little ‘c.’” That gave me an opportunity to define for him briefly what it means to be a Christian with a capital “C.” Then, when I got home, I sent him some material as a follow-up. He caused me to consider the difference between a big “C” and a little “c” Christian. It’s basically a matter of whether or not one has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Methodists have always preached that a believer can actually know God personally and can be assured that he has been saved, born again and reconciled to God. The key Bible verse is Romans 8:16: “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

But you might reply, “Brother Bill, I don’t have that personal knowledge of God. I don’t feel that inner assurance. How do I get it?”