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Do Not Be Ashamed


           So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.  He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.  That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. (II Timothy 1:8-12)

          Every now and again someone shares a meme that says “those who aren’t ashamed of Jesus will share this meme.” The politest response from me is no response at all, but I don’t tend to be polite often. Sometimes,  I’ll point out that if my life doesn’t already prove that I am not ashamed of Him, then there’s really nothing I can say or do that will be proof enough. Most often, however, I point out that my reason for not sharing the meme has nothing to do with my being ashamed of Christ, and everything to do with refusing to be manipulated into “proving” my faith in a way that boosts the social media rating of the person who started it.
          But, I must confess that I have often felt shame in my Christian walk – not shame about our Lord or about people like Paul who are suffering for their faith. No, my shame is with my failure to live up to my standards as a Christian. I’ve told the story of my refusal to wear a cross or put a bumper sticker on my car before. I don’t want to embarrass Christ by failing to live “as I should” – and I’m not strong enough to not live as I shouldn’t.
          This also traces back to today’s passage, because before the beginning of time, grace was given to us. We need that grace because we can’t live up to our standards, their standards, or God’s standards. We should not, then, be ashamed because grace has been given to us.

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