What If We All Just Stopped Being ASHAMED of SUFFERING? (UNITE Link-up)

Paul says to Timothy, “I suffer….but am not ashamed.” (II Tim. 1:12)

Have we ever considered, even today, SHAME can be associated with SUFFERING?

There’s a societal norm to look perfect, post beauty, show to the world we are “blessed”, “chosen”, living out some gospel that is NOT associated with suffereing?

While, Romans 5:3-5 teaches, “REJOICE in our sufferings.”

Matthew 5:12 promises, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven….” 

Do you want to know Paul’s explaination of why he is not ashamed in His suffering?

“For I know Him.” (II Tim.1:12) That’s it.

What is it in Paul knowing Christ, that makes everything else secondary? Even suffering?

Is it that all of life seems dims in comparison to His love and promise and goodness? Paul was blind, but now could see, having a radical, once-in-a-life-time encounter with Jesus.

Have you ever wondered, “Is Jesus really even worth the suffering?” If you doubt His goodness…

• Beg for Him to reveal Himself to you.
• Ask for a glimpse of His glory.
• Dig through Scripture, until you find the Pearl of Grace Price, worth going to sell everything for.

Paul says, He also knows, “HE IS ABLE”….to guard and keep that which is entrusted to him.

Do you know, truly believe…GOD IS ABLE?

There is an all-sufficiency to God!

Do we fear suffering, because we question His goodness? Let shame have its way, falling into the lie that says, “The gospel of Christ DOESN’T include suffering?”

Paul goes on in II Timothy 1:12…“I have committed [to Him] until that day.” See, Paul set His mind on Christ, committed to being unshaken, even, I wonder if, EXPECTING suffering?

As Paul exhonerated Timothy, He instructs him, “HOLD FAST and FOLLOW the pattern of WHOLESOME and SOUND teaching.” 

And I wonder, in Paul’s time, as in the days of Jesus, did they believe that suffering only came from either that person or their ancestors sinning?

Was there this corrupt theology still bleeding through, convincing people “The Sanctified” were free from difficulty?

And did the Pharisees and other religious leaders in Jesus day, use this safe-from-suffering” theology to manipulate and exploit the hurting, exhalting themselves as more important, justifying people giving to or following them?

Didn’t Jesus die for sinners, of who Paul says, He is the worst? (1 Tim. 1:15)

“GUARD and KEEP [with great care] the PRECIOUS and EXCELLENTLY adapted [TRUTH] which has been entrusted [to you], by the [help of the] Holy SPIRIT who makes His home in US!” (II Tim. 1:14)

See, truth must have been obscured, just like in our day. The gospel must have been tainted, leaders and corrupt people poisoning and convincing people that they can live a gospel WITHOUT suffering.

Like Paul, Timothy recognized and likely even suffered from SHAME surrounding the gospel. Paul exorts, “DO NOT blush or BE ASHAMED then, to testify to or for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake…”

Shame has always tried to accompany suffering, especially in Christianity. But it doesn’t have to.

The most powerful line? Paul says, “[with me] TAKE YOUR SHARE OF SUFFERING [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the POWER OF GOD.”

So…

• Isn’t suffering the testimony of any true Jesus-follower?
• Is there any true, Biblical-Gospel, that DOESN’T include suffering?
• Can’t our pain point to Jesus, as well as our victories?

“TAKE YOUR SHARE OF SUFFERING”, Paul preaches.

What is your share of suffering today, friends? Do you have marriage difficulties? Struggle with health issues? Grieve over wayward children? Are you constantly opposed by neighbors of family members?

Take JOY! REJOICE! Likely, you are living out the Gospel, that promises to also accompany some sort of suffering.

See…

THE TRUE GOSPEL will always, undoubtedly, expose us to some measure of suffering. Paul says rejoice in it, but SHAME wants to cripple us from the JOY available to us in suffering.

In Christ? There is no shame or condemnation!

The beauty is…Our calling leads us to not only transformation in others, but a consecration and holiness in ourselves THROUGH suffering, as we minister the gospel. (II Tim. 1:9)

Don’t fear friends…

JESUS NULLED DEATH AND MADE IT OF NO EFFECT! (II Tim. 1:10)

In the slow death [of self], that happens through suffering, we have the gift of becoming more consecrated to life lived in holiness, through Him.

It is this dross, this residue, that God purifies us from as we embrace suffering, allowing Him to shine brighter in and through us, making us an even stronger witness to the gospel of Jesus!

Through suffering, Christ showed Paul KINDNESS, and ministered to His needs. (II Tim. 1:16)

Doesn’t He do the same for us? He doesn’t leave or abandon us, but comes near in kindness, in and through hardships.

When we suffer, God is NEAR US, LAVISHING KINDNESS, RESTORING, and WORKING IN US…SUPPLYING EVERY NEED according to His riches and glory. (Phil. 4:19)

The Amplified version of Scripture shares, God comforted and revived and braced Paul, like fresh air. (11 Tim 1:16)

Then, Paul mentions Jesus, “He was not ashamed of my chains and immprisonment [for Christ’s sake].” (I Tim. 1:16)

If God is not ashamed of us amidst our suffering for Him, why do we live ashamed in front of man, whom God molded and created out of dust?

If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Let’s not let shame shrink or hide us away from suffering. No, we don’t go look for suffering, but suffering does come, as it is married to any true, living, power-laden gospel, centered on Jesus Christ.

“STIR UP! (Rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the (gracious) gift of God,” Paul tells Timothy, and encourages US! (I Tim. 1:6)

Any true Gospel will accompany suffering…

But we can walk in fearlessness and confidence…because God is greater than our fears, sin and death were nullified at the cross, and the POWER of Jesus Christ was born and lives in us!

Find JOY friends…there is JOY in and through your suffering! None of what you are experiencing, was ever allowed in vain.

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