A Gospel Worth Suffering For

 2 Timothy 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;" 

    It is the gospel of power. Any suffering which it involves, is to be borne in the power of God. The gospel was, and is, power, power to conquer self, power to master circumstances, power to go on living when life is unlivable, power to be a Christian when being a Christian looks impossible.

    It is the gospel of salvation. God is the God who saves us. The gospel is rescue. It is rescue from sin; it liberates a man from the things which have him in their grip; it enables him to break with the habits which are unbreakable. The gospel is a rescuing force which can make bad men good. It is not simply rescue from the consequences of past sin; it is a summons to walk the way of holiness.

    It is the gospel of grace. It is not something which we achieve, but something which we accept. God did not call us because we are holy; He called us to make us holy. If we deserved the love of God, our situation would be helpless and hopeless. The gospel is the free gift of God. He does not love us because we deserve His love; He loves us out of the sheer generosity of His heart.
    It is the gospel of God's eternal purpose. It was planned before time began. We must never think that God just laid laws down on His people, and that only since the life and death of Jesus, He has  forgiving love. From the beginning of time God's love has been searching for men, and His grace and forgiveness have been offered to them. Love is the essence of the eternal nature of God.
    It is the gospel of service. It is this gospel which calls us to be teachers of the faith. It did not leave Paul a comfortable feeling that his own soul was saved or that he did not need to worry any more. It laid on him the task of serving God and of his fellow men, an example well set for all Christians.
Amen!

Reading: (2 Tim 1:8-11)
Ref: (HG SB; DSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry