Faith Not To Be Ashamed Of 44 [2 Tim 1:8-12] / Anne's Faith Column

 

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Faith Not To Be

Ashamed Of  44

[2 Timothy 1:8-12]

/ Anne's Faith Column 

 

/ By Priscilla

 

"That is why I am

suffering as I am.

 

 

Yet I am not ashamed,

because I know whom

I have believed,

 

 

and am convinced that

he is able to guard

what I have entrusted

to him for that day."

(2 Timothy 1 : 12)

 

 

Paul was in a situation

where he had no choice

but to be ashamed of himself,

but he was able to boldly

exhort Timothy,

 

 

the son of spirit,

without being ashamed

of himself because he had

confidence in the

gospel and God.

 

 

It is undoubtedly

the most important thing

to inspire a leader who

lacks self-confidence

 

 

to have a sense

of calling, and to train

and nurture disciples.

 

 

This is especially true

when the situation we

 are in is difficult.

 

 

In the case of the

Apostle Paul,

 

 

he was imprisoned in a

Roman prison when he

exhorted Timothy,

 

 

but he overcame this

and was surprisingly

 strong enough to console

and exhort others.

 

 

This proves that he was

a true believer who had

a strong view of faith

 and was captured by the

Spirit of Christ.

 

 

How on earth could

he do such an act of

boldly comforting others

while forgetting his

 circumstances?

 

 

This is because

he always pondered

the purpose for which

God called him,

 

 

and he never forgot it

under any circumstances.

 

 

In a way, Timothy is said

to have been a christian

who followed the Lord,

 

 

but as described today,

he was a powerless

believer,

 

 

weak in everything,

introverted, and lack

of confidence.

 

 

In reality,

how many believers,

including ourselves,

are around us

 

 

who are encouraged

by others, but in reality

lack confidence

like Timothy?

 

 

Therefore, God wants us

to understand his words

through Paul.

 

 

Also, to further inspire

a sense of mission,

he asks us to: 

 

 

"For God did not give us

a spirit of timidity,

but a spirit of power,

of love and of self-discipline.

 

 

So do not be ashamed

to testify about our Lord,

or ashamed of me

 his prisoner.

 

 

But join with me in

suffering for the gospe,

by the power of God."

(2 Timothy 1:7-8)

 

 

In other words, we are

asked to have a new mission

 and a mindset to follow it.

 

 

Also, since God has called 

us, we should meditate

on the Word and fulfill

the definite purpose for

 which he has called us.

 

 

who has saved us

and called us to a holy life-

-not because of anything

 

 

we have done but because

of his own purpose

and grace.

 

 

This grace was given us

in Christ Jesus before the

beginning of time, 

(2 Timothy 1:9)

 

 

Therefore, in order to

have a burning confidence

in the Gospel and in God,

 

 

we must first of all be alert

and awaken from a long

spiritual hibernation.

 

 

 

1) First, thinking of

God’s choosing us, gifts,

and his nurturing each one

   of us through people,

 

 

we must do our best to

respond to God’s comfort

 with strong challenges.

 

 

2) Second, we should not

avoid preaching the gospel

to people because we are

afraid or ashamed of

 testifying to the gospel.

 

 

3) Third, do not neglect

to take care of ourselves

so as not to remain as

shameful workers,

 

 

and do not be lazy

in practicing love for the

sheep that the Lord has

entrusted to us and for 

for the weak believers

around us.

 

 

Prayer

 

 

Lord!  Thank you for

inspiring a new

 calling in us. 

 

 

Please keep us from

forgetting the purpose for

  which God has called us!

 

 

Grant us at this moment

the inner conviction

of Paul who never yields

  to circumstances!

 

 

And lead us to live

humbly with grateful

hearts.

 

 

Amen

 

 

2009/07/27

 

 

/ By Priscilla