"Nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know in whom
I have believed…” II Timothy 1:12
Consider the following dialogue between an ignorant man and someone
examining him on the subject of his faith:
“What do you believe?” -- “I believe what the Church
believes.”
“What then does the Church believe?” -- “The Church
believes what I believe.”
“Tell me, then, I pray you, what it is which you and
the Church both believe.”
-- “Why, truly, sir, the
Church and I both believe the same thing.”
Clearly, this man did not know what he really believed but had been
blindly following a group of people. A lack of understanding and
knowledge brings instability and insecurity, not only when
questioned, but when faced with life-altering decisions. Belief is
something that is personal. We can’t live and function for God
successfully by trying to operate on someone else’s beliefs and
convictions. Many people can go beyond the example of the man who
was totally ignorant and can recite what their church teaches. That
is not enough. What do you believe?
Paul told Timothy that “I am not ashamed.” The reason that Paul
wasn’t ashamed was because he had confidence and knowledge in whom
he believed. He believed in Jesus Christ and in the teachings of
Jesus. Independent of all others, he was personally persuaded in who
Christ was and what He represented. Because of this confidence, Paul
wasn’t ashamed or backward in declaring the faith.
There are people that are uncertain and ashamed of the beliefs of
those they fellowship due to a lack of understanding and personal
conviction. This lends itself to a very shaky foundation which is
easily overthrown when contested by others with false beliefs.
Lord help us to study the scripture, seek for revelation from God,
and know what we believe. We need not live in ignorance or shame.
God gave us the Word and the Spirit to lead us in all truth. Let us
take advantage of what God has given and deepen down in knowledge
and understanding. In so doing, we can say “I am not ashamed. I know
in whom and in what I believe.”
