This devotion is a monthly ministry of the Pee Dee Baptist Association, comprised of 31 Southern Baptist churches in Dillon and Marlboro Counties. For more information call 843-774-8062.
Featured this month is Rev. Chris Alderman, the pastor of Little Rock Baptist Church, Little Rock.
A few years back, I was making a pastoral visit. After a good visit and a word of prayer together, I got up to leave. As I walked out, the person said, “Preacher, do you feel a draft in here?”
“Not really,” I replied.
“Well,” he said, “You should because your pants are ripped wide open in the back.” He had a good laugh at my expense.
That was embarrassing and shameful, but not the end of the story. As I walked out, my Dad and Mom were there to pick me up. We had another visit to make in Florence; and what do you think happened in the car on the way over to Florence?
Speaking of being ashamed, in the book of Second Timothy, the apostle Paul is writing to a young preacher who is tempted to be ashamed. Paul is about to leave this earth (2 Tim. 4:6). He’s writing his last words from a lonely and cold Roman prison. In 2 Timothy 1:8, Paul instructs Timothy on the 3 things of which he should not be ashamed:
#1 – “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.” Timothy is tempted to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. What was Jesus’ testimony? He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, proclaimed that He was God, preached repentance for the kingdom of heaven was at hand, died for our sins, and was raised from the dead on the third day. Of these things, we should never be ashamed.
#2 – “Be not thou therefore ashamed of me His prisoner.” Timothy has been left alone in the great pagan city of Ephesus to appoint and train elders for the newly planted churches. Paul says in verse 15, “all they who are in Asia turned away from me.” All turned away, except on: Onesiphorus and his house. They were not ashamed of Paul’s “chain” or imprisonment. We should never be ashamed of those who stand for the truth of God’s Word. We should love and support them. Timothy is overwhelmed, alone, afraid, and pressured to be ashamed of the Gospel and the apostle Paul.
#3 – “Be not thou therefore ashamed of being a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel.” In the book of I Peter chapter 4 and verse 13, it says, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.” If you boldly proclaim the gospel and live a life pleasing unto the Lord Jesus, you will encounter suffering and persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” We should gladly embrace the partaking of the sufferings of Christ.
We support a missionary by the name of Samuel Esquivel who serves in Mexico as the Latino Director for the International Board of Jewish Missions. A firebrand for God if there ever was one. He was going door-to-door witnessing for Jesus. In one of the homes, he encountered a 58-year-old professor who was an avowed atheist. The professor said he enjoyed talking to “gullible believers” like Samuel.
Samuel asked Mr. Cabello if it didn’t shame him to be so ignorant.
“Why do you say that I’m ignorant?”
Samuel explained that Psalm 14 plainly states that only the fool denies the existence of God and that, as a professor, he expected him to be sharper in his thinking.
The atheist asked, “How is it you are so sure of what you are saying?”
Samuel replied, “Because of my faith in the infallible Word of God.” Samuel gave him the plan of salvation and at the end of it the man said he wanted to accept Jesus as his Savior! Glory to God! That’s the life-changing power of the gospel. May we never be ashamed of it. Every “new birth in Christ” is evidence of that power. No one ever comes to Christ without God performing this miracle of saving power. When you fully realize the power of the gospel, you will lose every bit of shame. It will be replaced with a burning zeal and passion to get the gospel to every creature.
Now, as Paul Harvey used to say, the rest of the story: On the way to Florence, I explained my embarrassing dilemma to my folks. Mom said, “I have needle and thread in my purse.” So, as we are riding down I-95, off the pants come, she sews up the rip, and I make the next visit with proper attire. There are things that we do that bring shame to us or the people who love us. But may we never be ashamed of the gospel. Have you been born again? Have you repented of your sin? “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Today, will you pray in faith and repentance and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior? Then you may say with the apostle Paul, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Amen!
