This Day in History: 0000-06-18

June 18 – 2 Timothy 1:7-10 

For God has not given us a Spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord… With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time – to show us His grace through Christ Jesus. And now He has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior.  He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 

Are we sharing the hope we’ve found in Jesus Christ with the world around us? Or are we living in fear, too ashamed of our faith to open our mouths and shine light into the darkness? I hope the answer is that we are shining brightly, like a city on a hill!

Of course, shining on a hilltop is sure to make us a target, so we have to be prepared to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. But let’s refuse to live in fear of that fact! After all, God has rescued us from an eternity in utter torment, separated from Him in Hell! If we’ve managed to escape that fate, what could we possibly have to fear?  Seriously, if our sights are focused on eternity, where we’ll have the privilege of sharing paradise with the King of Kings, living forever in His presence, sprinkling a little salty flavor into this world should come naturally!  

We’ve been saved by His Grace and called to live a holy life. Not because we’re good, we’re not. Not because we deserve it, we don’t. No, we’ve been saved simply because that is what God wanted to do, and it was always His plan. Since He’s revealed the way to salvation to us, shouldn’t we be quick to share it with others?  What do we have to fear?

We have the Holy Spirit of God living inside of us! That Spirit does not make us timid, or weak, or fearful.  He makes us strong and powerful, able to overcome strongholds. He offers us self-discipline, and fills us with His perfect love, which casts out fear! So let’s shine bright for Him today!