Thoughts for another day

August 17, 2012.

Today's verse: 2 Tim. 1:8. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In this cold and brutal world filled with idolatry and insane beliefs, we stand to give testimony about our Lord.  Jesus commanded us to go and proclaim His Good News to all the earth even unto the uttermost parts of the earth.  But, many times we're ashamed to talk about our faith in Christ; why? Even I don't know for there are times I too do not talk of Christ.  And each time I feel very bad, as if I have denied the Lord and truly I can feel what Peter felt after he denied his Master.

Paul exhorts us in our Scripture today, to not be ashamed to give testimony to our God for that's our job on earth.  Paul also urges us to be partakers of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power God gives us for that is our reasonable service to God who loved us and gave Himself up for us.  My friend what I write here is pretty tough to do.  But remember, so it was very tough for Jesus to face the humungous sacrifice He had to make of Himself.  Which is why He shed the pain of His heart on His Father's shoulder in the Garden of Gethsemane; but He wasn't removed from the path He needed to tread on.  Rather, He was given strength to bear the utmost cruelty that could be thrust on an innocent Man like Him.

It is a great privilege to be counted worthy of being servants in the Master's vineyard.  The job may be tough and we may even have to give up our lives in our work of spreading the Gospel for the salvation of man, but rejoice for the end of this is not corrupt flesh but a new body in which we will be with the Lord in His mansion on high and we will forever worship Him and be with Him, reigning forever and ever; where pain will not exist and a reward that no eye has seen nor ear heard, God will give us and we will be called His children and he will be our Father.  Amen.