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Not ashamed
You probably already know this, but choosing to follow Jesus doesn’t mean that everything is easy from that point forwards. In reality, living as a Christian can often have its own set of challenges. The Bible says: ‘Everyone who wants to live as God desires, in Christ Jesus, will be persecuted’ (2 Timothy 3:12 NCV). Maybe you’re in a community where being a Christian is illegal. Or maybe you have religious freedom, but your family don’t believe and you’re constantly being belittled by them. Whatever your situation, staying close to God and confident in your faith is the answer. When talking about persecution, Jesus said: ‘But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved’ (Matthew 10:22 NIV). God sees you, loves you, and is walking with you to help you keep your resolve until the end. He doesn’t want you to be ashamed of Him, or afraid of sharing your faith. It can be difficult, but with a little practice and a lot of prayer, it’s possible to remain in your circumstances and confidently share God’s love. We can see this through Paul’s assurance in prison. From his cell, Paul wrote: ‘I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body’ (Philippians 1:18-20 NIV). Will you aim to let Christ be exalted in your life despite the troubles you may face?
What Now?
Pray for an opportunity to share part of your testimony with someone today, and for the courage to take that opportunity when it arises.
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