Sharing your Christian faith
Never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. 2 Timothy 1:8
This isn’t the first time that Paul had spoken about the issue of shame. In his letter to the church in Rome he declared boldly that he was “not ashamed of the gospel” (Romans 1:16). There’s no doubt that he said this because he knew many people thought he should feel shame. Paul had been brought up in the strict disciplines of the Jewish faith. He was a Pharisee and had studied under the most respected rabbis of his day. He knew that there were many people who wanted him to feel thoroughly ashamed of his Christian convictions, which they saw as betraying his Jewish roots. But, on the contrary, he was so proud of his new- found faith that he was more than happy to boast about his salvation and new life in Christ. He was the very opposite of ashamed!
Paul knew however that there were many reasons why young Timothy might feel ashamed of telling others about the Lord. Indeed, shame can be an obstacle for all of us. We might hate to be seen as different, or a bit odd. We would rather fit in with the crowd and avoid other people’s sneers and jibes. Paul wanted to do everything he could to encourage Timothy to be bold and confident in his testimony and not to shrink back, however costly it might be.
I fully recognise that the rise in religious tension and violence across the world in recent years has caused many people to feel apprehensive about sharing their Christian faith. However, I am quite sure that Paul would tell us to be bold and confident in our witness, while always speaking with sensitivity and grace.
QUESTION
How bold are you in sharing your Christian faith with others?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, forgive me for those times when I have not spoken about you for fear of what others might think. Help me to be more confident in declaring the truth of the gospel. Amen