2 Timothy 1:8 (ESV Strong's)
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
2 Timothy 1:12 (ESV Strong's)
which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
2 Timothy 1:16 (ESV Strong's)
May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains,
2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV Strong's)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Don’t Be Ashamed
In each of the above verses there is a compound Greek word, with the base: aischynomai. It means to feel shame. In each of the passages, Paul stresses something that, we, as believers should not allow to “shame” us. The world loves to “shame” people. The entire political correctness movement is one that “shames” those who don’t follow someone else’s political flavor. The act of “shaming” was the same in the New Testament times. Paul is telling us to not allow others and circumvent to “shame” us.
1. Don’t be ashamed of Christ’s testimony ... Christ died on the cross, naked. It was as much shameful, as it was painful. Don’t be ashamed of His death.
2. Don’t be ashamed, like Paul, when we suffer for Christ. We are to glory in His suffering and our sharing of His suffering.
3. Don’t be ashamed with our brothers and sisters suffer (like Paul). We are to join them in that suffering and proclaim it as a joy for Christ.
4. We are to be workers for Christ and in our work, not be ashamed to present to Christ good work and show our service for Him.
Today the world would like to shame believers into submission to their way of thinking. We are to now allow the system of this world to shame us into losing sight of who Christ is and our walk with Him.
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