The Apostle Paul was not ashamed but convinced, persuaded, loyal, and trustworthy, when it came to his faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul knew what it was to be intellectually smart, an extremist religiously to the point of even having a deep hatred for Christians in the early church. He had such arrogance and pride that he wreaked of self and it stunk. He thought he was ‘holier than thou’. Having an abundance of life’s goods, yet he was empty and still searching.
Everything changed in Paul’s life when God knocked him off of his high horse! (Acts 9).
He had a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus as Paul humbled himself and realized how foolish and arrogant he was compared to the life he was now experiencing.
Everything he was experiencing was nothing compared to knowing the excellence of Christ and this personal experience. Knowing the power of Christ’s resurrection and sufferings.
Paul stood his ground when it came to compromising his faith in Christ and did not waver in spite of what others thought. Too many believers are being caught up in a culture of feelings and emotions with some even renouncing and recanting their “faith in Christ”. I wonder if some of these people were ever a believer in the first place, but I will leave that for God to judge. Jesus did remind us that, ” We shall know them by their fruit”.
Faith in God is not about feelings or emotions but complete trust in the finished work of salvation at the cross of Jesus Christ period. We either believe (trust) in the Lord or we don’t.
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17 NIV
Like Paul the Apostle we must contend for the faith and stay the course being committed to the Lord in spite of every wind of doctrine, false teachings, philosophies against Christ. Against cultural shifts that are usually built on sinking sand, and shallow leaders who give no place of leadership when it comes to representing the Lord Jesus Christ.
For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced (fully persuaded) that He is able to guard (keep) what I have entrusted (committed) to Him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 NASB (emphasis added).
Something to think about my friend. Have a great day and coming week!
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Published by Andy
Greetings! My name is Andy Provitola and I live in New England on the South Shore between Boston and the beautiful Cape Cod region.
The purpose of my blogging and writing is to encourage you in your journey here on planet earth. Life is full of pressing issues and problems and my desire is to discover a place for peace, hope, healing, and contentment. I am a follower of Jesus Christ – God’s one and only Son and I discovered these truths along my own personal journey.
Having discovered a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ does not mean I have to be religious to attain the rewards of heaven. The fact is God provides grace for us and accepts us as we are in His image. In other words, we cannot attain heaven or life eternal on our own, but by God’s loving grace and no merit of our own. Simply by accepting Him by faith and believing.
My goal is to continue to find a balance of life from a spiritual and practical perspective with a purpose to please and glorify God in all that I do because of His ‘Gift of Grace’.
God is not transcendent and so far away that he is out of reach with humanity. God desires that His presence lives within us and not just in the galaxies and the universe. Experiencing the unconditional love of God has been so rewarding and while discovering the truth and purpose for my life. Moving forward in this life is not a sprint, but a marathon when it comes to this race here on earth.
I am blogging because I find it is a good way to connect in a much more effective and efficient way when it comes to communicating and interacting with people that I know or do not know. Blogging and writing challenges me and also stretches me specifically in my thoughts, my mind, my emotions, and my spiritual life. To live a vertical relation with God and a horizontal relationship with others.
There will be a variety of topics and subjects to address including youth, young adults, family, singles, seniors, relationships, etc. Some of the topics will include God’s creation and power, depression, loneliness, suicide, hope, healing, setbacks, financial matters, business, stress, anxiety, care, encouragement, and so much more.
I would like to connect with all walks of life, ethnicity, culturally, other religions, socio-economics, and in so many more ways.
I am currently writing a book and several memoirs about my own life and journey . The journey begins at a young age growing up in Malden, Massachusetts, specifically Maplewood Square to where I am today. I became paralyzed from the waist down as a senior in high school and I share how my life changed for the better!
“But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus. To testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious undeserved] grace [which makes us free of guilt of sin and grants us eternal life]. Acts 20:24 Amplified Version
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