Unashamed for Jesus 不以耶稣为耻

[Dexu Xia]

Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord. 2 Timothy 1:8

Today's Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:6--12

Today's Insights   

In 2 Timothy 1:6-14, Paul’s advice to Timothy was in no way arrogant, nor was it given flippantly. He wrote out of his own deep suffering. In fact, he was imprisoned at that moment and understood that he’d soon be executed. “The time for my departure is near,” he wrote (2 Timothy 4:6). And yet the apostle was forward-looking. Just as Jesus gave instructions to His disciples the night before His crucifixion, so too Paul focused on developing the faith and ministry of his younger protégé Timothy, who would carry on the work. “Fan into flame the gift of God,” he urged him (1:6). “Join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God” (v. 8). Paul didn’t fear death because he anticipated “the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (v. 10). We can also stand strong when our faith is tested.

Today's Devotional   

Before he was martyred for his steadfast faith in Jesus, an African minister whose name has not been preserved penned “A Martyr’s Prayer.” This profound message from another era has become known as “The Fellowship of the Unashamed.”

This pastor’s words present a challenge to all believers in Jesus—a challenge that echoes the words of the apostle Paul, who wrote in his letter to his young friend Timothy: “Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord” (2 Timothy 1:8) because the Holy Spirit gives us “power, love and self-discipline” (v. 7).

Here, in part, is what that faithful African pastor wrote: “I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of [Jesus] and I won’t back up, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. . . . I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by the Holy Spirit’s power.”

Both Timothy and that pastor faced difficulties we may never experience, but their words challenge us to stand strong when our faith is tested. We can remain unashamed because God “is able to guard what [we] have entrusted to him” (v. 12)—our lives and our future.

Reflect & Pray

What gives you courage to be unashamed for Christ? How can you follow the examples of others who were unashamed of the gospel?

Dear God, You promised that the Holy Spirit gives us power. Please help me to stand up for You and be unashamed in all kinds of situations.

“你不要以给我们的主作见证为耻。”（提摩太后书 1:8 ）

今日经文：提摩太后书 1章6-12 节

今日心得：在提摩太后书 1章6-14 节中，保罗对提摩太的建议绝非出于傲慢，也非轻率之举。他写下这些话，是出于他自己深重的苦难。事实上，当时保罗正被囚禁在监狱中，他知道自己即将被处决。他写道：“我离世的时候近了”（提摩太后书 4:6）。然而，这位使徒却着眼于未来。正如耶稣在被钉十字架前夜指示门徒一样，保罗也专注于培养他年轻的门徒提摩太的信心和事工，他要提摩太继续他的事工。他敦促提摩太，说：“要将神的恩赐再如火挑旺。”（1:6）。 “你当按着神的能力，与我为福音同受苦难”（8节）。保罗不惧怕死亡，因为他盼望“我们救主基督耶稣的显现。耶稣基督已经把死废去，藉着福音，将不能坏的生命彰显出来”（10节）。这样，当我们的信心经受考验时，我们也能站立得稳。

 今日灵修   一位姓名不详的非洲牧师，在因坚定信仰耶稣而殉道之前，写下了《殉道者的祷告》。这篇来自另一个时代的深刻信息，被称为《无愧者的团契》。这位牧师的信息对所有相信耶稣的人提出了挑战，这与使徒保罗在写给他年轻朋友提摩太的信中所说的话相呼应：“不要以给我们的主作见证为耻”（提摩太后书1:8），因为圣灵赐给我们“能力、爱心和谨守”（7节）。

  以下是那位忠心的非洲牧师的部分内容：“我属于‘无愧于心’的团契。决定已定。我是[耶稣]的门徒，我不会退缩、松懈、放慢脚步、或后退、或停滞不前。我的过去已蒙救赎。我的现在充满意义。我的未来非常安稳……我凭信心而活，倚靠祂的同在，凭着忍耐行事，借着祷告得提升，并靠着圣灵的能力劳苦。”

  提摩太和那位牧师都面临我们或许永远不会经历的困境，但他们的话语激励我们在信心受考验时要坚强站立。我们能够保持无愧于心，是因为神“能保守我们凭信心交托给他的”（12节）：我们的生命和未来。

 反思与祷告 是什么给了你勇气，使你为了基督问心无愧？你如何效法那些不以福音为耻的人？ 亲爱的神，你应许圣灵赐给我们能力。请帮助我为您站立，并且在各种情况下都问心无愧。