Ashamed of the Gospel?

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Rom 1:16 KJV)

I am not ashamed to say that I believe that I have been reconciled to God by the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus my Savior and Lord. I do not always display that reality for which I am most sorry for. There are times that I slip. There are times that we all slip and don't represent Jesus as we could.

In one of my small recovery groups that I led for teen-age boys who had been convicted of felonies, one of the young men, who professed to be a Christian, shared a story about how he ended up fighting with someone following a worship service at his home church. He had worn the colors of his gang to the church service. In other words, he represented someone other than Jesus when he entered that building and it irritated (to put it mildly) a rival gang member who was also there.

It is one thing to profess that we are Christians. It is much more difficult to be representatives of Christ. False gods abound and the majority of us can be led astray; deceived, by them to some extent. 

God help us to recognize these false gods. Help us to be of good courage so that we might share the Good News of the one died on the cross for the salvation of all who would believe in him.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Will You Lose Your Soul?

"And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
 

                                                                                  (Mark 8:34-38 KJV)

What indeed will it profit you if you gain riches beyond measure; even if you gain the whole world, but lose your soul? What will it have profited you if in the end you lose it all including your soul?

Christ lost his very human life in order that we might live eternally in the presence of God our Father. He was willing to give it all for us. Would we turn our backs on this precious gift and grab for the pleasures of this world in exchange for a life of peace and of joy in the presence of Almighty God?

Consider carefully what or whom you will serve!  

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

Do not fear the losses you might endure in this world as you serve the Lord; but, rejoice for the Lord has promised you life in his presence through the gift of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Therefore; let us "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing." (Psalm 100:2)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

We Shall Not Fear

 

How blessed are those who put their trust in the Lord! He is our rock and our salvation. Into his hands we commit our spirits. Be of good courage. We shall not fear for God will deliver us.

PSALM 31 KJV

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the Lord.

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.

My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.

Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.

Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Hope Fills Us With Joy

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13 KJV)

It can be difficult to continue hoping for something for years and years and never get to see that thing that we hope and pray for. Yet, we continue to hope. We continue to believe that no matter how bad things might get today God has a good plan for those who believe. (Rom 8:28)

As difficult as it can be to get through some days and weeks and even years we trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us and to comfort us; to give us hearts filled with peace and with hope.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

                                                                                               (Rom 5:1-5)

May God grant that we should put our faith in the Father who is the great I AM and in the Son who is Jesus the Christ and in power of the Holy Spirit that our hope in God's promises will fill us with joy. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Spirit Of Power

 

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;" (2 Tim 1:7-8 KJV)

Paul exhorts Timothy and ultimately us to be brave in proclaiming the Gospel. Do not be afraid that others might persecute you because of your testimony about the Lord. Do not be afraid or ashamed to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus the Christ. 

Paul was not afraid. He suffered much for testifying to what he had seen and heard. He knew that in the end he would die for the Gospel of Jesus. But, none of that mattered. God had given him the spirit of power and love and of a sound mind. In Christ he had the courage and strength to do the will of our Father and follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

"So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Rom 1:15-17)

Be not afraid... Share the love of our God in Christ Jesus with all who need to hear the Good News. And... we all need to hear Good News.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Follow In The Way

Psalm 25:1-11 KJV

Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.

Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

+++

Forgive us our sins and teach us your ways! So often we desire for the Lord to help us out of a fix that we've gotten ourselves into. Yet, we fail to acknowledge that we have gotten ourselves into the trouble we find ourselves in because we have not listened to him and followed in the way that he would have us go.

Of course, that is not the only reason we find ourselves with trials. But, it is one and one that we can avoid by listening to God; repenting of our sins; and following in the way that He would have us go loving and serving him and the people around us. 

God grant that we trust in you; that we should trust in your word and listen to it with our whole hearts and souls.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

LIsten And Follow

PSALM 25:1-9 KJV

Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.

Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

+++

We ask the Lord for a lot of things. Sometimes we rejoice when we see that our prayers have been answered. At other times we might even think that God is not listening to us; that He may not even care. He does indeed listen and He does answer our prayers. But, do we listen to Him when He is showing us the way to go?

We may ask the Lord to guide us and to teach us His paths so that we can live both peaceful and fruitful lives that will glorify Him. We can ask all we want; but, if we don't listen to His guidance it will avail us nothing. So often we ask but then proceed to do it our own way; go our own way without bothering to hear the word, the teachings of our Lord.

He will teach us all things; but, we must humble ourselves and listen and then actually follow in the way that He has shown us!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Abominations

 

An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

                                                        Proverbs 29:27 NKJV

If this proverb is true (and I am quite certain that it is) then it seems to me that there was and always be a division within this country and the world. We are divided in many ways; but, the most glaring of late seems to be between those who want justice for those who have striven to do what is right and those who want to appear righteous in themselves and subvert justice.

God will always know the truth and it is He who will judge each of us on the last day. He will judge those who close their eyes to sin. He will also judge those who have be been falsely accused. And, as our Lord promised those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake will be blessed, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:10)

In the first letter of Peter, Christians scattered through Roman provinces of Asia Minor are encouraged to remain faithful even in the face of persecution.

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. ( Pet 3:13-17)

So if the world is divided between those who are justified by the blood of Christ and those who are not; if it is divided between those who persecute and those who are persecuted; who are what are we; abominations to the wicked or abominations to the righteous? Where do we stand: with Christ or against Christ? 

Even as we are all sinners; help us, Lord, to do what is right. Help us to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with our God! (Micah 6:8)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Not Ashamed of The Gospel

Share the Good News that God so loves us that He gave His

only begotten Son to die for us that we might be saved and live!

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. (Romans 1:16 NIV )

Most of us would say that we would be willing to save our loved ones if they were in harm's way. We might even say that we would give our lives to save them. But, what would we give to save them from eternal death; of separation from our loving Father for all eternity? Would we dare to share the Gospel with them? Or would we be embarrassed because they may ridicule us for our faith? Would we be afraid of some persecution that might follow; even if it were very slight?

Paul was not ashamed. He was a well-esteemed Roman and Jew. Yet, when he came to know Jesus and the message that Jesus died so that all might live; Paul was not afraid to share that Good News. He shared it with everyone and not just those whom he personally knew and loved. He was not ashamed nor was he afraid of being persecuted for the truth. His desire that all should receive the truth and be saved was much greater than any fear that he may have had. His faith; in fact, overcame any fear.

Paul was not ashamed to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. Are you? 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Every Knee Shall Bow

Turn to me and be saved,
    all the ends of the earth!
    For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn,
    from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness
    a word that shall not return:
“To me every knee shall bow,
    every tongue shall swear.”

Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,
    are righteousness and strength;
all who were incensed against him
    shall come to him and be ashamed.

Isaiah 45:22-24

In the end, every knee shall bow before the Lord God. Whether in reverence and thankfulness for all that God has done for us or in fear of what is to come because we turned our back on Him. We will all know that there is only One God and it is He who has offered us salvation. Let us trust in the Lord, the King of Kings, for our salvation! Do not wait for tomorrow to bow before Him. Honor Him today!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Do Not Fear; God Is With You

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
 I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish.
Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all.
For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.

(Isaiah 41:10-13 NIV)

It can be quite easy to become dismayed; even very distraught, with the things that the world can throw at us. But, over the years, I have become much more patient (although not always patient enough). I can now look back at the things that caused me major distress and see how God got me through those times. He has been with me always and He will continue to be with me. Whatever happens I know that He upholds and takes care of me.

He is with you. Do not be dismayed. Do not fear. Do not fear what your enemies plot against you. Do not fear what the world can do to you for tomorrow is truly another day. We may wake up tomorrow in this world or the next. Only God can know for sure where we shall be tomorrow or even a minute from now. But, wherever the beloved children of God wake up, we can know that God is with us. We have been reconciled to God our Father through the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

Do not fear. Be at peace for God is with you and nothing can separate you from His love.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Our Hope

Our covenant is a covenant of hope in Christ Jesus, our Lord!

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV

I must confess that every now and then any semblance of gentleness and respect in me flies out the window. It doesn't happen often and I am usually sorry that I was not more gentle later. Yes, I am sorry when I correct people, not so gently. When it does happen, it is usually when their egos threaten to override anything that would glorify God. When the hope that we have in Christ Jesus becomes hope in the works of people, I get just a little frustrated. I get frustrated when "Christians" who have been "Christians" most of their lives put their own desires before the will of God; forgetting that Jesus is Lord of all; forgetting that our mission is to serve others as Jesus did and does rather than serve ourselves.

Our hope is not in what we or anyone else can do or will attempt to do. Our hope is in the life-giving sacrifice of Jesus for all people. Our hope is in the Kingdom to which Jesus opened the doors to all who would believe in him. Our hope is in Jesus. Our hearts shall revere him above all others, and most definitely above ourselves.

May God help us to be able to speak clearly and gently as we profess that Jesus (and no other) is Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J