“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called [us] with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began… 2 Timothy 1:8-9

 

Did you know that God is calling you? Maybe you’ve been screening your calls…

God has called us all to be ministers of the good news. What is the good news? The fact that there is a way back to having an intimate relationship with the God of the universe by way of the free gift offered from the Father’s heart to ours. Jesus Christ died and rose so that we could be free from the bondage, presence and penalty of sin. Once accepted, this gift presents us as blameless in God’s eyes, making us able to enter boldly into a true relationship with Him. Here’s the best part- God has called us to take part in spreading that GOOD NEWS! In the end of 2 Corinthians 5, Paul says that God has made us ministers of reconciliation and that He speaks through us as His ambassadors, pleading for the lost to come back to Him.

But there is a problem. We’ve been busy. We are too self-involved. We don’t want to come across as a terrorist! Okay, that last one was ridiculous. You say, “I don’t think God has called me to that” when given the opportunity to minister the gospel to a co-worker or family member. When you feel the Holy Ghost (that’s right I wrote Ghost for emphasis, it’s harder to ignore a Ghost) leading you to something outside of your comfort zone, you procrastinate, hoping the “feeling” will go away. Most people enjoy the idea of Christianity but are uncomfortable with the idea that they have a responsibility to undertake as Christians. I have often noticed that I feel “God leading me” to things that pad my ego or perhaps require as little commitment and personal sacrifice as possible. We are okay when God calls us to the “fun” aspects of Christianity, but not when we have to sacrifice the whole “Cool Christian” vibe we’ve finally mastered.

Here’s a question to ask ourselves- Have you ever felt a little embarrassed for someone who is “unashamed” and ignores social etiquette in an effort to share Christ’s love? I’m guilty of distancing myself from outspoken Christians while secretly wishing I had the boldness to join them. Some people will argue, “Hey, I’m not a pastor. I’m not an evangelist.” Or “If I tell people about Jesus, then it will turn them off and they’ll think I’m weird.” Both may be true, but each individual who has accepted Jesus as their Savior has also had a call placed on their life.

Paul continually encourages Timothy to not be timid about his faith. We can take comfort in those words since we often feel like Timothy. We should not neglect the calling on our lives to reach people for Jesus. In fact, God has given each of us specific gifts to minister to those He puts in our path. Let’s be unashamed of our faith, bold in our calling and like Paul, let us strive to achieve the purpose that God had in mind for us when He caught us in the grip of His grace.

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do]… I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-13a, 14

“For this reason 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 what I have committed to Him until that Day.” – 2 Timothy 1:12-13