Don’t Be Ashamed of the Gospel
Open Your Bible
2 Timothy 1:1-18, 2 Corinthians 3:4-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
BY Charaia Callabrass
My high school experience was vastly different from the average adolescent. It wasn’t filled with exceptionalism or much experimentation, but it was four years of going to the same school where my father taught. I remember one day, as a senior, after almost four years of being the kid that never got into trouble, I decided it was time to rebel. I attempted to skip the last period, only to receive a call from my father who spotted me walking to my car from his classroom window.
Students who knew of my dad or knew him as a teacher were quick to call him strict. And when they discovered that the school’s scary drill sergeant was also my father, they were surprised to hear that what they knew of him and what I knew to be true of him were vastly different. I spent a lot of time ashamed of being my father’s daughter. A shame that stood on what others believed to be true of him.
In 2 Timothy 1, Paul sees the timidity that Timothy struggles with and the fear that he possesses regarding the call of God on his life. Paul encourages Timothy that boldness is a gift from the Lord and that when he chooses to put on courage, he will be moved to put off shame (2Timothy 1:8).
It’s easy to forget. At the time this letter was written, following a crucified Master wasn’t easy. It wasn’t something one would specifically find pride in doing. Jesus spent His time on earth teaching principles that contradicted the ways of the world and then died a brutal death. For those who did not understand the good news of the resurrection, the testimony of Christ was one steeped in shame. We, too, can find ourselves placing the good news under a cloak. Both afraid and embarrassed to share about the Jesus we’ve known to be true because we’re more concerned with how others will receive our testimony based on what they know of Jesus.
But the truth is that when we step into the gift of courage in Christ, we shed shame. When we recall what God has proven to be true, the remnants of shame that attempt to attach themselves to the good news of the gospel we are called to share are removed (v.11).
When we find ourselves shrinking back from proclaiming the good news of Christ, what we know to be true of Jesus can be the backbone of our courage.
Shame cannot exist in the context of true intimacy. As we pursue Him and allow the Holy Spirit to make deposits into us, we are moved from shame to honor. No longer burdened with embarrassment as we tell others of Jesus, but brought into a place of joy and delight regarding the testimony of our King.
41 thoughts on "Don’t Be Ashamed of the Gospel"
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Hey! To fix the app doing the guide every time, just log out and back in (through your profile settings). That fixed it for me. Deleting and reinstalling the app doesn’t work, so you have to just log out and back in and it’s fixed! I hope this helps!!
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I’m giving my testimony at church on Sunday. I am a cancer survivor and through it all my relationship with the Lord has grown so much. I surely don’t think I would want to go through everything I’ve been through in the last 4 years again, but I am grateful that I went through everything I’ve gone through just so that I could know more about my Lord and my Savior. The testimony is called “eyewitness testimonies“, for us to tell others how we have seen Jesus move in our lives. Please pray that the testimony I give will reach others and that the Lord will be glorified. It’s in church but it’s also live on YouTube. I’m a little nervous about that, but praying for God to be glorified.
Blessed weekend sisters! To God be the glory!
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MARIA BAER I’m having the same problem! Let me know if you figure out how to make it end:).
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Yes, and it’s driving me crazy!
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I removed my app and can’t get it back on my phone. I can open it int he app store. I find I use my computer all the time anyway. But I like to mark it off on the app. Does that say anal?!! lol
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Dear TINA – I have found so much peace in God. I do believe Tanner’s life was already written. He touched so many lives through his journey with Cystinosis. He changed mine. This journey brought me back to God. I have become more bold, not shout from the rooftops, but willing to share my faith with others. I miss my boy, but I know he has peace and is with God. That his passing has stirred up questions for others and I hope we pointed them to Jesus. TINA I wish I could give you a huge hug. You have helped me through this time more than you can possibly know. My truest thanks.
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound, judgment. I pray to rely on this power of God when sharing. 1 Thessalonians – Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every king of evil.
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Yes
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SEARCHING: I forgot there’s a Hawai’i Pidgin translation! I’m from Hawai’i so I read that and had to smile.. I don’t speak Pidgin that much so it was tough for me too. But it definitely is more “in your face” than other translations. :) thank you for the prayers also.
I’m quite introverted as well but have learned ways to insert inspirational verses (through infographics) to people by texting them, either randomly or while we are texting one another. One of my mentors bought me the book “Jesus Calling” which has been wonderful, and I often take a pic of the day’s reading and share it with people the Holy Spirit prompts me to send it to. Praying that the Holy Spirit leads me to have greater courage to share in person. I can definitely relate to the author with hesitating to share because I feel others know Him differently… It hits home for our family business as well, that I hesitate to share because some have responded negatively to the company as a whole, when it was other people who misrepresented what the company is all about. So grateful for this study, it has opened my eyes to so much.
Have a wonderful Aloha Friday and weekend. Blessings!
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