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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)
I shared a message with Great Hills Baptist Church recently and titled it "The God Who Keeps." It is part of a study we are currently in called "God Is Able." Last week in our devotions, we discussed how God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). This week in our devotions, we are going to observe how God is able to keep us.
Kristina Tucker shared her story publicly on video at our church. Many know Kristina and her journey. She has faced so much over the last couple of years. Her youngest son was diagnosed with a bone disease, and she fell off a ladder, but the greatest hurt has been due to her and her husband separating. In spite of all this, she has continued to be faithful to God while walking a very hard path. I cried twice when I listened to her story on video. But in the midst of the sorrow and hurt, she has been empowered by God. I am grateful to God that many in our church family have walked with Kristina and her sons, Samuel and Elliot. In the midst of hardship and suffering, she has experienced the sustaining, keeping power of God.
God does not forget or forsake us as His children, but just the opposite: He watches over us and guides us along the paths we need to follow. All our efforts and suffering are never in vain. God sees and loves us and will one day reward us for faithful service.
The Apostle Paul encourages the saints under Timothy's watchful care in the Church at Ephesus to not be ashamed of the testimony (marturion) of the Lord Jesus. God did not save us so we could cower or be ashamed of Him; rather, He called us to Himself so that we might be bright lights of hope and witnesses to His Gospel. He also said do not be ashamed of me, His prisoner. To associate with Paul would be costly. You would be linked with him and ridiculed like he was.
But Paul said "share with me." Sharing in this context means suffering hardship with another person. Instead of shunning Paul and being ashamed of him, the church was admonished to associate with and link arms with him in his suffering. For what purpose? For the gospel! The good news of Jesus is worth the suffering that we encounter.
We are able to do all this sharing without being ashamed not by our own power but by the very power or dunamis of God.
"Paul knew that the plan of God in Jesus Christ seemed foolish to many; but he also knew it was the living, active, power of God to save souls and transform lives. Paul would not be ashamed of it, and neither should Timothy – or us today. . . . Paul saw himself not as the prisoner of Rome, but as a prisoner of God. Paul saw God as the Lord of every circumstance, and if he was free, he was the Lord's free man; if he were imprisoned, he was the Lord's prisoner." (Source: Enduring Word Commentary online)
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