Morning by Morning, March 9 - Unrelenting and Unashamed
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I surrender to Your Lordship in every area of my life. ...
“Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the Gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. For this Gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the One in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to Him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the Good Treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us” (2 Timothy 1:8-12).
Paul suffered persecution and imprisonment for the sake of the Gospel. But his message to those he was discipling -- like Timothy, his spiritual son, and the generations being raised up to herald that same gospel of hope and truth -- was not to back off or lay low or just go with the flow. His word of wisdom was not to be careful not to offend anyone with the truth or hurt anybody’s feelings by holding fast to the authority of the Word of God. His counsel was not to find ways to compromise with the culture or appease their demands or bow down to their gods or worship the ways of the world as the way to win some to the Gospel.
No. Paul’s message to those he was mentoring in the faith was “Do not be ashamed” (v. 8); “Join with me in suffering for the Gospel” (v. 8); “Hold (fast) to the standard of sound teaching” (v. 13); and “Guard the Good Treasure entrusted to you” (v. 14). His message was to stand firm in the faith. No surrender. No retreat.
It was in this context that Paul spoke those famous words to Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (v. 7). “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice” (v. 7 NRSV).
Forgive us for our cowardice. Forgive us for our compromise. Forgive us for apologizing to the culture for standing firm when we should be repenting for bowing down to any god but You. You have “saved us and called us with a holy calling” (v. 9). Remind us every day. Empower us every day. By the power of Your grace at work within us, may we “Guard the Good Treasure entrusted to (us), with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us” (v. 14).
Now is the time to stand firm. Now is the time to hold fast. Now is the time to show the world we’re not going anywhere. We will not be silenced. We will not surrender. But we will declare the goodness of God as Savior of all. “For this gospel (we) were appointed,” even if we suffer the persecution of the culture (v. 11). Unrelenting and unashamed, we will never stop honoring and exalting our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Good Treasure of His Word of Spirit, Life, and Truth to a world literally dying to hear Your Good News of this Gospel. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be filled with the Holy Spirit, never silenced and never cancelled, boldly proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God despite any persecution we endure through these days, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you!
Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:
Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407
San Antonio, Texas 78257
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