2 Timothy 1:8-12

This morning we are heading back into the Book of 2 Timothy.

Paul is writing this letter from prison and it is the last letter that Paul will write before his death.In our text tomorrow we will see Paul encouraging Timothy to not be ashamed of the Gospel or of Paul. 

The reason Paul is encouraging Timothy not to be ashamed is that the persecution of Christians had intensified and being courageous and standing firm for the Gospel could cost Timothy his life. Christians were being arrested, imprisoned and killed for their faith in the Gospel. So the human-fleshly inclination was to preserve one's life by avoiding  sticking out or evangelising a message that the Roman government deemed as contrary and dangerous.

In our world today, persecution of Christians exists even in America. However, the persecution we face is minimal compared to what Timothy was facing, or the persecution we see around the world, as Christians in some parts of the world are being martyred for their faith.

It kinda puts things in perspective when folks are tempted to blend in and compromise their faith so that coworkers, family, or friends won't make fun of them. Just like Timothy, we are called to be courageous and not be ashamed of the Gospel, no matter the cost.