Some days the battle seems so intense–that we begin to become fearful. We worry that the flack we receive for our beliefs is somehow our fault. Maybe we are not being good Christians, or good ministers. The truth from Paul to Timothy is simple–“That is a lie from the Pit of Hell!” He reminds us that God did not give us the spirit of fear! Instead, he gave us the spirit of power, and of a sound mind! We are not confused about our faith; it is simply completely counter to the agenda of the world and of Satan–our enemy!
Knowing that, we must be ready to be persecuted and berated. In that onslaught, we can never become ashamed! Even if the battle costs us our livelihood, our freedom or even our lives–we need to stand firm! David, while under siege from Saul, lived on the run and in fear for his life and the lives of his men. But, in the midst of that siege he wrote, “In the times that I am afraid–I will trust in You, God!” Psalm 56:3. It is not that fear is out of place–it is scary out there! Instead, we simply need to know that our fear is not from God–he protects, prepares and provides. It is from our enemy, the one who was already defeated at the cross!
Further, while the world would attempt to embarrass and shame us–we need to stand confident as victors and the children of the Lord of all creation. Paul said it clearly to the Romans, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ! it is the power of God for salvation to all who will believe…” Romans 1:16. We can be proud of whose and who we are in Christ–it neither matters where, or in what financial or physical condition–WE WIN!!!!!
God Bless You
8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him[a] until the day of his return.