In the book of Acts Paul often went to the synagogues to attempt to reach the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles with the gospel of the grace of God. Often, he would find himself kicked out and/or beaten. In 2 Corinthians 11:23 he tells us that he was, "...in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft."
Paul didn't go about his ministry because he liked being hurt. He went about his ministry because the Lord Jesus Christ had revealed a "dispensation of the gospel" to him (1 Corinthians 9:17). Paul knew the truth, and it was his priority to proclaim it despite the reception.
Paul tells us that faithful workmen carrying out their reasonable service would speak God's truth. Not just when convenient. Not just when people want to hear.
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." 2 Timothy 4:2
Despite constant rejection and suffering, the one thing Paul needed to do in life was to testify the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24). He had resolved that his life was to be laid down to proclaim the truth of the gospel, the power of God to save.
In 2 Timothy 4:7, as Paul is nearing his death, he writes, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith…" No doubt the world, religions included, found it fit to rid themselves of his constant preaching. To them he was but a foolish man. As all in Asia would turn against what Paul had once taught them (2 Timothy 1:15), Paul still counted his ministry a success. It wasn’t about numbers, it was about truth being proclaimed.
As Christians we're in a spiritual battle. Too often we don’t care to train for the battle at hand, so that we can fight properly to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5). Too often we're willing to lay down the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. After all, it might offend someone. If we choose to be silent, we can live in this world comfortably. But that’s not what we’ve been called to do.
Timothy was encouraged to commit sound doctrine to other faithful men, so that they could teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2). If we study and speak the truth of God's word to a lost and dying world, souls can be saved and saints edified. Let’s run the race, and finish our course with joy, needing not to be ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15).
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” - 2 Timothy 2:3