Not Ashamed

Not Ashamed
Words of Faith 7-3-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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2 Timothy 1
[7] For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. [8] So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or ashamed of me, his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, [9] who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his purpose and grace.

It takes courage to give testimony. Whether in a courtroom or workplace, before believers or in the supermarket, it takes courage. The critical point for courage comes when we are called to give testimony.
Testimony about our Lord must be given with courage and expressed with power, love, and self-discipline. When the time comes for us to testify about our Lord and what He has done, there must be no shame. No apology. No back-pedaling.
Grammatically, Paul was not implying that Timothy had already acted in a way that showed shame. But his concern was likely related to the serious incarceration he was facing. The threat of execution by Emperor Nero was becoming a genuine possibility for Paul. He could see how this might seem shameful to some in the Roman city of Ephesus.
But Paul always counted himself as a "prisoner for Christ's sake and purpose" (2 Tim. 2:3). These were tough times. As Timothy's ministry was marked by power, love, and self-discipline, he could stand tall against his opponents. He would not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or be embarrassed that Paul was a prisoner.
This is not a new message. Paul wrote to the believers in Rome-- "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile" (1:16). It is not a surprise that Paul encouraged Timothy to join courageously with him in suffering for the gospel, for it is in such circumstances that the power of God is made manifest.
This "fellowship of suffering" is a powerful thread in the message of Paul. As he wrote to the Corinthian church: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
What about us? Are we ashamed at times? I recently read a post in which an old friend said he was ashamed to be called a Christian because of the bad behavior of others claiming the name Christian. The truth is that such situations only point to the validity of the Gospel-- we all are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. We are ALL in need of God's amazing grace and mercy. Such situations are an opportunity to step up and admit the frequent hypocrisy of believers and that all need the grace that Jesus alone supplies. None of us are sterling examples of righteousness.
The truth is that we are only examples of God's great patience and mercy. When I am weak, that is when I am strong because of Him. By the power of God, he 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.

Father God, thank You for Your amazing grace in Jesus. Thank You for saving me. I will not be ashamed of the Gospel. I will not be ashamed of Your people, no matter the prison or struggle that they inhabit. I will testify to the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of His purpose and grace. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.