"Paul's Invitation"

By: Zach Wood

2 Timothy 1:8

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. 

But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

 

 

I'm extending to you an invitation!  Actually, it's not originally mine.  It's an invitation from the Apostle Paul.  By a show of hands, how many of you would like to suffer?  Ummm....I don't see many hands going up.  No one is interested in suffering?  Perhaps I should make the question a little longer.  How many of you would like to suffer for the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  I see a few hands this time.  Most of us would agree that we should be excited and energetic when sharing our faith with others.  Sharing seems to be a word that enlightens us.  However, when we think of suffering, it does not bring such an overwhelming, enlightened feeling.  Suffering for some of us brings back bad memories of our childhood.  Suffering for some of us reminds us of experiences we have had going to other countries and seeing the devastation of those who are dying of starvation and unsanitary conditions. 

 

The suffering I am talking about and that Paul was talking about is how we should be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ.  I once heard a quote from Michael W. Smith.  It goes something like this "Funny thing about the gospel.  The more you suffer for it, the more you believe in it."  This quotation is not verbatim, but is close enough.  As Paul is writing to Timothy, he is encouraging this young man to be strong and faithful.  As I read this passage, I shared with my wife how ironic it would be to ask someone to suffer along with you in doing something.  You would probably not get a big crowd if you asked people to come and suffer with you for whatever reason.  It is just not a comforting and inviting feeling.  However, when we think of how the world is and how opposite Christ was from the world, it makes sense that we should suffer for proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.

 

What is even more interesting is the last part of verse 8, "by the power of God".  When we suffer for the gospel, we do not suffer alone.  God is with us through our suffering.  Jesus came here to suffer for God's glory and He wants us to join with Him in suffering for God's glory every day.  It is not easy and is many times quite humiliating.  Going against the flow is extremely difficult for most of us. 

 

My thought is this.....How many of us take pride in suffering for the Gospel?  Do we just endure it and get through it?  Do we take advantage of opportunities for sharing our faith when we are criticized?  I will be honest in saying that it is extremely hard for me.  I find opportunities so challenging because I am not sure of the response.  I feel sometimes that I will be a laughing stock.  But then I remember back to what Jesus Christ went through.  I could not possibly go through anything worse.

 

So, once again, I would like to extend Paul's invitation to you and myself.  Are we really ready to join in suffering for the Gospel?