How to Suffer Without Shame

2 Timothy 1:12 KJV

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have

committed unto him against that day.

There can be no question that the Apostle Paul suffered for the cause of Christ. He describes that

suffering in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 KJV

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes

above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.(25)  Thrice was I beaten with rods,

once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own

countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the

sea, in perils among false brethren;

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold

and nakedness.

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the

churches.

He was about to suffer the ultimate when he was executed in Rome. But Paul assured Timothy that he was not ashamed of His suffering. He then gives these two reasons:

He knew whom I have believed

The great difference between true Christianity and mere religious Christianity is this knowledge of Christ. The religious Christian simply cannot comprehend the difference between a faith based walk with the Lord and duty driven religious service.

To know Christ is to be willing to suffer for Him.

He was persuaded that He is able

Persuasion, not in his own abilities and skills, but in those of Jesus Christ. Let the world do as it

might Christ is so much greater than the world! Paul's persuasion

• that he was saved,
• that his salvation was in Christ and
• that heaven would be his eternal home

so filled him with assurance that he could not be ashamed no matter what the world did to him.