Scripture to Read: Romans 1:16
Yesterday, we began to examine the importance of not being “ashamed of the gospel.” Our Lord Jesus Christ told us the consequences of being ashamed of Him and His Word. We read what our Lord said in Mark 8:38, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Our Lord said this in Matthew 10:33, “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” Then our Lord said it this way in Luke 9:26, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Our Lord made it clear that being ashamed of Him and His Word this side of heaven guaranteed that He would deny us before His Father in heaven. Being "ashamed of the gospel” means there is an unwillingness to believe the gospel, obey the gospel, and then proclaim the gospel. For every follower of Christ, even if we have times of fear of sharing the gospel, we know that we are not ashamed of the gospel because we have chosen to surrender to Christ as Lord. The good news is that we know this earth is not our home. We know what Christ has done for us; therefore, even in our fear, we live for Him.
Challenge & Application
· How have you overcome, or how are you learning to overcome, the fear of sharing Christ with family and friends?
· What are you doing to help other believers in Christ live fully surrendered lives to Christ and not in fear?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!