Those of you out in blog land that are familiar with the AWANA program probably recognize the words of Romans 1:16, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. Another AWANA verse also talks about not being ashamed, 2 Timothy 2:15, Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Both of those verses are clear that Christians should not be ashamed of following Christ.
Apparently, this is a truth I need to learn because God also showed me some other verses that talk about being ashamed. Usually, if I am not in the middle of studying a book of the Bible, I will read the Psalm of the day. This very thing occured on the 25th of October. I had gotten off work late and hadn't read my Bible yet that day so I sat down at the dining room table and opened to the 25th Psalm. Technically, I should have read the 26th Psalm because it was after midnight but I decided to go for number 25 instead. God must have led me to that passage because 3 times in the 22-verse chapter does David implore God to let him not be ashamed. Verse 2 says, "O my God, I trust in thee; let me not be ashamed..." The following verse goes on by saying, "Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed..." Finally, in verse 20 David keeps with this theme by requesting, "O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee." The theme of the passage appears to be David requesting guidance and instruction from the Lord but he also keeps making the request to let him not be ashamed.
Though I hate to admit it, sometimes I do feel ashamed of the Gospel, of God. What does this look like in today's world? It comes in the form of me not standing up for my convictions. It has the appearance of me going along with the crowd because I don't want to look different. It is me using the course and profane language of the world because I am too worried that my "friends" will think I'm not cool if I don't. So many times I act like I am ashamed of Jesus and what he did for me. I let my fear of man and his disapproval get in the way of living a life that is unashamedly one that testifies to what Jesus means to me. I still live in the trap of being ashamed but I thank God that He has shown me this area in my life that needs attention and I pray that I respond in a manner similar to David in Psalm 25 when he prayed, "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me..." Only God can lead me to a place where I am not ashamed of Him and the sacrifice He made for me. The most important step I can take in the direction of becoming unashamed of my Lord and his death and resurrection is by acknowledging my need to have Him guide my life and my actions (ie, putting my trust in Him, as the psalm says). Only then, with God in charge, will I have the strength to stand up for what is right and show that I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it IS the power of God, unto salvation, to everyone that believes!
