Thought of the Day !!

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Romans 1:16 (NIV)

What is the gospel? It's the good news...the good news of Jesus Christ...that he came to earth to teach us how to live, die for our sins and be resurrected so that we would know that we had a way out of this sinful life that leads to eternal death. Also, according to Paul, it's the power of God for the salvation of all of us who believe. I take this to mean that it is the power of God for all those who take it seriously.

Being ashamed of the gospel is not just being ashamed to call Jesus our Savior. Being ashamed of the gospel also comes when we are ashamed of Jesus' ways, the same ways that he calls us to live by.

We are ashamed of the gospel when we are ashamed to have folks in our church that don't fit in...folks of a different color or background or lifestyle. We are ashamed of the gospel when we are ashamed of our kids or who they hang with because of the way they dress or what they pierce. We're ashamed of the gospel when we're ashamed to admit that we wanted to help someone in need that others thought were not worthy of help. We're ashamed of the gospel anytime we decide to do what the world would want us to do instead of what Jesus would have us do.

Don't be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Don't be ashamed of calling Jesus your Lord and Savior. But also don't be ashamed of living your life in the manor that he did and that he taught us to.

I guess what I am trying to say is this. Don't be ashamed to Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And don't be ashamed to love your neighbor (remember the Samaritan?) as yourself.

In the love of Christ,
greg