The Cost of Commitment

0:00The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy, chapter 1, verse 7 Welcome to today's encouragement from our daily bread. The cost of commitment was written and read by Celestial Dixon. 2 Timothy, chapter 1, verses 6 to 14 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the lane on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me, his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.

1:00He has saved us and called us to a holy life, not because of anything we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am, yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. What you heard from me, keep is the pattern of sound teaching with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

2:04Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The cost of commitment. A group of 22 Christian leaders traveled half a day to secretly meet and learn from a pastor who came from another country. If caught, the pastor would be deported and the others would spend three years in prison. 18 of the 22 had already been in prison for their faith in Jesus. After the pastor handed out 15 Bibles he brought with them. One woman gave hers to someone else. Like many others, she had memorized chapters of Scripture, so she would have its wisdom secured in her heart if she were to go to prison. She later asked the pastor to pray that their church would be free to gather, just like his.

3:07Instead, marveling at how they sacrificed, suffered persecution and risked imprisonment, he prayed that his church would be just like theirs. Believers around the world are persecuted for their faith in Christ. Some more severely than others, and all believers can be tempted to cower when the stakes of living for Christ are raised. But the Holy Spirit enables us to use our God-given gifts with power, love and self-discipline. God will help us share the gospel with boldness and compassion wherever he leads. Because of all he did for us, we can embrace the sacrificial cost of commitment to Christ and preserve sound teaching with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

4:10Let's pray. Lord, thank You for the courage and faith of those who follow You despite great costs, strengthen us by Your Spirit to stand boldly for Christ, sharing His love and truth with humility, courage and unwavering faith. Thank You, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions. How have you sacrificed to seek and share Jesus? Who will you share the gospel with today?