Not Ashamed

-


Scripture: Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)

16 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. 17 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.”

Devotion:

            Today, many Christians hide their faith around co-workers and friends. While this has clearly been a problem since the beginning of the faith. It has been worse especially during times of government harassment and criminalization. In Paul’s day, there was major persecution against Christians. It would have been easy for Paul to give up preaching the gospel and just try to blend in with the crowd. Being out and proud as a Christian in Paul’s day could land you in prison or even get you killed. So why did Paul and so many others proclaim this message of good news loudly and plainly if there was such resistance from society?

            They did it because they knew that Jesus had been raised from the dead. They knew that the one true God had walked the earth and had made a way for humankind to be saved. They had immense joy in this knowledge and were determined to share it with anyone who would listen. They knew the power of this way of life enables one to live a life of righteousness before God.

            So, how can we 21st century Americans live out Paul’s vision for a Christians walk with the Lord? Well here in America saying you are a Christian or even acting in Christian manor is enough to get one in deep trouble. The sights that have occurred in recent weeks in Washington D.C. make you wonder. We have seen Christian values be bashed repeatedly. From loud protests at the homes of certain justices to quieter acts of desertion in the halls of congress. These are but the beginnings of much worse to come.

            In these, and a multitude of other ways we are pressured by our world to renounce our faith and live lives of obedience to the ruling elites. We must seek to resist the ways of this world and boldly proclaim the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. We cannot by dreaming return our world to the days when the church was a respected institution. Sorry to say we have brought the name of Jesus into disrepute. God’s church has been through similar times in the past. We have God’s word that his church will prevail, and we can rely on that promise.

            So, we must live boldly and deeply committed lives to Christ, Let us pray for that power.

Prayer:

            Lord God who made the heavens and the earth, hear your peoples cry today for your Holy Spirit’s power to get us to be bold for the gospel. Let us confront our world with the Good News of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Help us to be courageous Christians in the world today. Let us show forth the love that you showed to us when we first received you as our savior. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapt...
Read more

The Hatred of the World

-
Scripture: John 15:18-20 (ESV) 18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. Devotion:             This scripture is compelling. It explains what happened to Jesus and His disciples some 2,000 years ago. The message of God is rarely welcome news for the world. It calls out many of the culture's favorite practices for what they are: sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, humankind has been adamant about trying to hide or excuse their sin. Sin causes a barrier between humans and God that humanity cannot overcom...
Read more

Reflecting on Reformation Day

-
  On October 31st, millions of Christians around the world celebrate Reformation Day, a commemoration of a pivotal moment in church history. It marks the day in 1517 when Martin Luther, a German monk and scholar, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This act, challenging the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church, ignited what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. The Courage to Stand for Truth Reformation Day calls us to reflect on the courage it takes to stand for truth. Martin Luther faced immense opposition and risked his life to speak against the corruption and abuses he saw within the church. His conviction was rooted in a deep understanding of scripture and a sincere desire to return to the teachings of Christ. As we remember Luther's bravery, let us examine our own lives. Are we willing to stand firm in our beliefs, even when it is difficult? Do we seek truth in God's word and let it guide our actions? Script...
Read more