2 Tim 1:8, "So do not be ashamed (aorist passive subjunctive, “you should not be…”) of the testimony about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but by God's power accept your share of suffering*~ for the gospel."
It seems so obvious that we should never be ashamed of Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, especially in front of strangers who you will never see again, yet human nature resists being bold and open about its association with Christ. To be caught with gospel tracts in your possession or a Bible in hand would signal to everyone you are a follower of Jesus. Will everyone think you must be a fanatic? (By the way, the word “fanatic” means being a “fan” of something). At sometime we have to decide to take whatever criticism or rejection that might comes from being a follower of Jesus.
Paul is advising Timothy to be ready to not be ashamed of being identified with him as a prisoner or with the gospel of Christ. When Paul wrote this letter, at approximately A.D. 66, anyone who was identified as a Christian brought criticism and frequently persecution, yet Paul commanded Timothy to accept his “share of suffering for the gospel.”
Paul never saw his imprisonment as a bad thing. He never complained. He only saw it as an opportunity to spread the gospel. Could you have thought of a better way to get the gospel spreading among the Praetorian Guard? He considered himself a “prisoner for His sake.” He wrote to the believers at Philippi, “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole Praetorian Guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear” (Phil 1:12-14). This made it worthwhile.
The command of the passage was for Timothy to share in Paul’s greatest desire, in fact, his highest purpose in life as he wrote was to “know [Christ] and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil 3:10). Thus Paul was bold and risky as he wrote, “Let those also who suffer according to the will of God, entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right” (1 Peter 1:19).
Any time a sinner is confronted with his sin, he may respond negatively, but it is a risk we have to take. "God's power” gives grace to endure anything. However, the grace flows when needed. We can count on it.
Psalm 34:9, “Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.”
For a year's daily devotional of these Bible studies, order a copy of the book Truths to Live By at Branches Publications for your copy.
It seems so obvious that we should never be ashamed of Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, especially in front of strangers who you will never see again, yet human nature resists being bold and open about its association with Christ. To be caught with gospel tracts in your possession or a Bible in hand would signal to everyone you are a follower of Jesus. Will everyone think you must be a fanatic? (By the way, the word “fanatic” means being a “fan” of something). At sometime we have to decide to take whatever criticism or rejection that might comes from being a follower of Jesus.
Paul is advising Timothy to be ready to not be ashamed of being identified with him as a prisoner or with the gospel of Christ. When Paul wrote this letter, at approximately A.D. 66, anyone who was identified as a Christian brought criticism and frequently persecution, yet Paul commanded Timothy to accept his “share of suffering for the gospel.”
Paul never saw his imprisonment as a bad thing. He never complained. He only saw it as an opportunity to spread the gospel. Could you have thought of a better way to get the gospel spreading among the Praetorian Guard? He considered himself a “prisoner for His sake.” He wrote to the believers at Philippi, “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole Praetorian Guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear” (Phil 1:12-14). This made it worthwhile.
The command of the passage was for Timothy to share in Paul’s greatest desire, in fact, his highest purpose in life as he wrote was to “know [Christ] and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil 3:10). Thus Paul was bold and risky as he wrote, “Let those also who suffer according to the will of God, entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right” (1 Peter 1:19).
Any time a sinner is confronted with his sin, he may respond negatively, but it is a risk we have to take. "God's power” gives grace to endure anything. However, the grace flows when needed. We can count on it.
Psalm 34:9, “Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.”
For a year's daily devotional of these Bible studies, order a copy of the book Truths to Live By at Branches Publications for your copy.
