Stand up for Jesus. He is of highest importance.

 

Not Ashamed of Christ

In my studies I am sometimes reminded that there are people who have paid a serious price for their commitment to Christ.

When this reminder comes my way it is not unusual for me to recall that there have been times in my life when I was reluctant or even embarrassed to stand up for Christ because I did not want to be thought of as one of those “religious fanatics” who is a little too far out there with this Jesus-stuff.

Believe me, I am not proud of this. It is an embarrassing admission of weakness. You see, I did not want to risk being teased or mocked. I did not want to be thought of as un-cool [which is ironic because I’ve never really been cool in the first place, but I didn’t realize it].

This is not very good, huh? People have been willing to stand up to torture and execution—they’ve literally been killed—for the cause of Christ and I’ve been unwilling to face a little bit of teasing.

Please understand I’m not trying to force my beliefs on others. I realize it is not possible for me to make people embrace something they do not want to believe. And I realize a number of people who read this do not see things the way I do. But I post a good bit about my faith in Christ because of the extraordinary influence He has had on my life and the lives of many others whom I know and love. Also, because I have come to a place in my life in which I feel no shame regarding the truth of Jesus and who He is and what He has done. I am not embarrassed by Him, I am proud and honored to know Him.

Oh, and there is this factor, too: I have a greater understanding of the inevitability of truth.

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes…”  Romans 1:16 [NLT]

The Young Guy Couldn't Hear My Thoughts

Recently, I saw a young man on television who seemed to be a bit embarrassed by the simple, quaint connections to God that were part of his life. On the TV program the young man was with some very hip, very cool people—heavy hitters in the entertainment industry—and I think, perhaps, his association with God may have made him feel un-hip and un-cool in his current rarefied setting.

It’s interesting that beings who are completely dependent on God for their very existence could consider Him to be slightly embarrassing, isn’t it?

As I watched the program I found myself trying to encourage the young man, in my mind.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” I was directing these thoughts to the young man. “There is nothing these people have, nothing they think, nothing they can do and nothing they can offer you that is more important than God or more important than knowing Him.”

You might be thinking, “Dan, he couldn’t hear your thoughts.”

I know. But come on, do you really have to rub it in?

"What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing  worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord..." Philippians 3:8