2 Timothy 1:12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Reading this very familiar and glorious verse, I am reminded of where Paul used the same terminology in writing to the Romans: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16) Social pressure is very real, and shame, or simple embarrassment, is a big part of that. It takes different forms in different cultures or societies, but the devil loves to use it to mess with us. However, Jesus set the example: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Depictions of His crucifixion always include a loin cloth of some sort, but that wasn’t part of most crucifixions. The whole point was not only to make it as painful as possible, but also as shameful as possible. Anything we might have to go through doesn’t top that. As he wrote to Timothy, Paul had been a prisoner for years, and he faced his eventual martyrdom. The thing that sustained him was his complete assurance that Christ whom he served was more than able to carry him through to the glorious eternity that was promised to him. We tend to waver at much more trivial challenges! We never know how we might act in various hypothetical situations, but countless believers down through the centuries have discovered that God is indeed faithful. The record of Steven being stoned is a good example. I don’t think he had planned on martyrdom, but in the moment, he was able to say, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:60) The key is, as it says in Hebrews, to fix our eyes on Jesus. Paul had that focus, and it was all he needed.

I have long loved the hymn made from this verse, and since the chorus is simply this verse set to music, I memorized this verse at a very young age. The verses of that hymn talk about all the things we don’t know, pointing out the ultimate importance of knowing Christ Himself as our personal Lord and Savior. (I like that the Japanese term for “Savior” is literally, “Saving Lord.”) If we only know about Him but don’t know Him personally, then we won’t have the assurance that Paul and Steven had. I don’t expect to be martyred, but I do rejoice in getting to know my Lord more and more as I walk with Him. There are various things I would rather avoid, but I know that He will be with me in and through them, so I have no reason to be anxious. I have plenty of experience in being unreasonably anxious! I am not to put myself down, but rather rejoice in God’s mercy and patience toward me, knowing that I’m a work in progress, and that the end result will be His doing and not my own.

Father, thank You for Your plans for me. Thank you for what You are taking me through even as I write. I pray that You would enable me to take my eyes off of myself and indeed fix them on my Lord, so that Your purposes may be accomplished in and through me on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!