Do not be Ashamed

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
- 2 Timothy 1:8 - 14

I am truly thankful to God for graciously allowing the few of us to gather and read His Word as well as having brothers in Christ, who when it is said that we need to come back to the Gospel give a hearty "Amen" instead of giving me the "what the heck you talking" look.

Reading 2 Timothy chapter 1 today, one is struck by Paul's focus on the Gospel of Christ, which is echoed throughout most (if not all) of his letters. And in verse 8 he begins with "do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord." Immediately verses like Romans 1:16 spring to mind. (For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.) How often are we ashamed by the Gospel of our Lord. How often do we tweak it by adding or taking away from it in order to appeal to a wider audience. As Paul Washer so often puts it, this Gospel of ours is a scandal and therein lies the power of it. I seriously feel it is ludicrous for us to think we should help God make His message more acceptable to carnal men, to pander to their sinful desires and lusts. I mean come on, is God so weak and feeble that unless we help Him with a bit of PR no one would come to Him?

Secondly, Paul tells Timothy to not be ashamed of him, a prisoner. While alluding to both his status as a prisoner of Christ as well as a prisoner of Caesar, the statement is clear. Do we despise men who preach the hard truths? Do we rather prefer men who teach things that would tickle our ears and feed our selfish desires?

The third thing, and the one that really struck me today, was Paul's request for Timothy to "share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God". Are we not all then called to suffer for the Gospel's sake? So often we, myself included, would rather choose to sit back and relax. To take the easy rather than the hard path. And yet, Paul tells Timothy to share in his sufferings, by the power of God no less.

And Paul ends it off so beautifully, "I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed." And I know in whom I have believed, the Lord high and lifted up, the Lord mighty in battle. That is why I am not ashamed.