⁸Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God …

The apostle most likely caused embarrassment to others because of his bold evangelism—otherwise why would he feel a need to caution Timothy to “not be ashamed . . . of me”? If Timothy had a propensity to be timid, one can imagine his temptation to struggle with fear when others criticized or persecuted Paul, with whom he was closely associated.

The antidote to fear is not to passively hide from or avoid persecution and criticism, but to boldly embrace the resistance and suffering that come from living wholeheartedly for the Lord. Paul invites Timothy to “join with [him] in suffering for the gospel.” The goal is not to dodge persecution but to be like a soldier who willingly joins the battle, knowing full well he will suffer scrapes, wounds and injuries, and yes, even death. Faith means believing God has indeed given us a spirit of power, love, and discipline (or a sound mind); therefore, let’s fully engage the battle for souls.

The phrase “according to the power of God” is critical here. This can be rendered “by the power of God” (ESV, NIV). The sense is that we can overcome the fear of sharing the gospel because we have the power of God. This knowledge motivates us; it strengthens us. We willingly take on the consequences of sharing our faith because that is what the power of God does in the Christian. The fact of our witnessing proves the power of God in our lives. Our boldly speaking up for Jesus Christ when it goes against the social mores and standards of our society speaks volumes to the unsaved. They notice our boldness.

Consider for a moment the enormous pressure our contemporary world places on conforming to acceptable patterns for talking about spiritual things. One can speak of religion, of “faith” in the broad sense of even going to church. But to speak plainly about Jesus Christ, His love and forgiveness, and the cross—that invokes a strong reaction from the unsaved world. There is a clear and evident danger to the believer of being rejected, marginalized, ostracized, mocked, and persecuted. The Christian who does not cower in the face of this, who does not mold himself into acceptability by the world, who has the strength to be known as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, stands out in this world. And this can only be done by and according to the power of God. We do not stand alone, for the One to whom we bear witness stands with us. And He is strong.

Lord, thank You for the power You give me to be a faithful witness for You.