I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end. 2 Tim 1:12 (MSG)
Unashamed – Part 6
Go to PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5
Paul wrote to his friend and mentee Timothy: “Don’t be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner. Take your share of suffering for the Message along with the rest of us. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus. This is the Message I’ve been set apart to proclaim as a preacher, emissary, and teacher. It’s also the cause of all this trouble I’m in. But I have no regrets. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.” (2 Tim 1:8-12).
This is part of his testimony – his story. The gift and purpose of God at work within him.
To be unashamed of God doesn’t mean that you have to defensively declare him from the mountain tops, or annoyingly drop his name in every conversation or beat people up with your truth…
To be unashamed of the Gospel is to own what The Divine has done in you and for you. It’s to accept humbly his gift of grace and love and to live boldly the life you were created to live.
Be unashamed about loving your neighbour. Be more unashamed about loving your enemy.
Don’t be ashamed that you don’t know all the answers. Don’t be ashamed about the grace you’ve been given.
Own your past and present and prepare for the future.
Be yourself, live your story.
Let your life, and when necessary your words, testify of who you’ve chosen to follow down the mysterious path of being alive in this world.
It's good to note that the words above that Paul penned to Timothy were private. Paul wrote a letter to Timothy. Just to him. It’s easy to lose sight of the intimacy of this exchange because we can read verses aloud in a gathering of thousands. But Paul’s words were for Timothy. A private note between brothers, mentor and mentee, even father and son. Consider this when you see those blogs on Facebook, or hear your friends talking, or see someone you don’t agree with… and remember that the testimony of your life is that when you were still neck deep in trouble, confusion and hopelessness, Christ found you and met you there with love, compassion, wisdom and hope.
There’ll be a time and place to tell the details of your testimony and convictions boldly… but your words are made more powerful by the life you live. So let your testimony dwell in the deep place of living. Every day. Every moment.
I believe, and in fact, its the only thing I am certain of, that together as we love and hope and have faith, we can see the impossible take place in the world around us. And as we let the testimony of Jesus’ redemptive blood stir within us and come out through our living, we will conquer the evil that lurks in corners and see love prevail.
Go to Part 7 – Praise You (Reflection) »
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