16/09/2022 - DON’T BE ASHAMED

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Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.  2 Timothy 1.8

One of the worst attitudes of a saved person – freed from the oppression that made him act outside God’s plan – is to be ashamed of Jesus or the Gospel. Anyone who does this is in danger, because He has said that, by His command, He will also do the same for such a person: For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels (Luke 9.26).

The world needs to know the Truth, and we know that it is Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 14.6). So, never stop talking about what the Lord has done for you. If you have been delivered from something bad, it’s because you have been loved by the Master. Now, failing to tell people about it will make you responsible for their doom. So, even if you lose your best friends, don’t let go of your best Friend.

Be honest whenever you have the opportunity to talk about your recovery in any area of life. Never be a servant of the enemy, for he only knows how to destroy the hearts of unbelievers. Be an approved worker, who is not ashamed of anything and is happy to say who he was and is now. The credit for our deliverance must be given to Christ. When people know what He has done for you, they will also want to meet Him in order to be free!

Paul says that he was in prison because of his testimony of Jesus. He had done nothing wrong, but he angered the Jews by speaking of the Good Shepherd. They would go to the courts, intimidating him with false accusations, as happened with the Master in the trial that he faced before the Roman authorities and, because of them, was sentenced to death. The Savior came exactly for this: to die in our place, freeing us from eternal damnation (Isaiah 53.4-7)!

The apostle exhorted Timothy to share in the afflictions that in those days came upon those who dared to speak of the wonderful Redeemer. The Church must go through these disturbances with its head held high. If, because we love the Lord, we have to live through distressing moments, it’s best to prepare ourselves so that we will never be labeled as cowards, or any other negative qualification (Revelation 21.8). We have to go all the way, fulfilling the divine purpose (Daniel 12.13).

The best way for us to participate in the afflictions of the Gospel is not to pray for God to send lightning and destroy those who attack us. That is not the teaching of the holy Lamb, as He Himself said: But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5.44). This is the recipe for success that must be followed by those persecuted for the sake of the Gospel!

Many people have not yet become mature in the Lord, so they call on others to ask the Most High to destroy their adversaries. This is wrong! If someone does us wrong, he cannot die without repenting, for he will be eternally condemned. Cry out to God for this soul!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares