Not Ashamed
What a fall from grace
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Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.
2 Timothy 1:12 (NET)
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Paul here is talking about suffering for the sake of the Gospel.
He was in prison, awaiting his own death, and this was his final letter to his protégé, Timothy.
Now, here’s an interesting thought:
Paul had confidence that Christ would protect the mission He entrusted to Paul.
It wasn’t that Paul had confidence in his own physical well-being. He knew that the mission would be fine, even if — especially if — he wasn’t.
That’s pretty radical to me.
I struggle with trusting that the mission God gives to me will all work out fine, choosing rather to rely on God protecting me, personally. But, according to Paul’s mindset, this is a bit backwards.
I think it’s this confidence that leads Paul to not feel ashamed.
Socially, here is a great, learned man cast down into the dregs of criminal society.
“What a fall from grace,” I imagine many people would say. Wasting his life — a very educated life that’s probably the equivalent of a PhD — in his mission.
But Paul didn’t see it that way.
Paul knew that obedience to Christ was all that mattered.
He had this eternal perspective, knowing that his citizenship was in heaven, his reward was after life, and his mission was critical.
So, he endured.
And passed his message along.
I’ve got a lot to learn from Paul.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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