Not Ashamed

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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.

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