Shamelessness is a result of Lordship. Paul was surrendered to the Lordship of Christ as seen in his embracing of a life calling. 2 Timothy 1:11-12 “for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things…” such as found in 2 Corinthians 11:19-28.
Faithful ministry in the Lord’s service is always bittersweet. It brings joy and suffering, gratitude and disappointment, satisfaction and regret.
Charles Spurgeon gave a vivid illustration of the overriding satisfaction that comes from selfless, godly service. A man shall carry a bucket of water on his head and be very tired with the burden; but that same man when he dives into the sea shall have a thousand buckets on his head without perceiving their weight, because he is in the element and it entirely surrounds him. The duties of holiness are very irksome to men who are not in the element of holiness; but when once those men are cast into the element of grace, then they bear ten times more, and feel no weight, but are refreshed thereby with joy unspeakable.
The Christian who is obedient to his duty under the Lord can say with Peter, “If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God” (1 Peter 4:16).
Tweet