Romans 1:14-17 Apostle Paul
I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. (Asleep in the Light– Keith Green)
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. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (If We Are His Body–Song)
2 Timothy 1:12 Apostle Paul
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. (I know in Whom I have Believed–very traditional hymn)
You know– there are two directions one can go with being ashamed of the gospel (All the fullness of the good that is in Jesus death, burial, and resurrection towards God and man)- either ashamed around religious folk or ashamed around those who are either indifferent or just antagonistic. Paul, a once persecutor of the Church- makes it very, very clear that it is God who qualified him for this particular race of preaching the good news. Otherwise– Paul saw himself as extremely unworthy.
In Psalm 51 King David seeks God’s renewing, forgiveness, and enabling. In his mind’s eye after that– he was fully qualified to call out to people out of syc with God, falling short of God’s perfections, and in opposition to His purposes for their life to become Intimate with their God- to seek Him with all their heart. He would teach such God’s ways.
What qualifies a man to stand at the gates, to stand at the entrance of the city, to cry out to all manner of men and women? It is God’s grace through the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s the Great Qualifier- not man says Paul in the first part of Galatians. (Sadly, during John Bunyan’s time when religion had been lassoed by vicious dead religion- he was put in jail for his faith around a decade and so wrote the book- “Pilgrim’s Progress.”- worth looking at!) I used to have a friend who grew up in a Christian home who wasn’t walking with the Lord. When I first became a believer he was very testy, critical, rude and down right antagonistic towards me. You see– He didn’t understand Grace and only understood religion and a dead one at that. To him I was an offence. But, was I going to shrivel in a corner ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ? No. Not then.
Paul too experienced religious folk who were trying to snuff out both his message of the good news in Jesus Christ and even Paul himself. Did Paul and King David have a persecution complex? Were they paranoid or delusional about those who were “out to get them”? No. Jesus Himself said that the gospel wasn’t the kind of message that always brought peace between this and that person. Jesus knew- knowing that sometimes men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil- that the gospel of the Kingdom (spoken of in the OT as an everlasting Kingdom that would establish the throne of David forever and ever) would cause strife. Yet, Paul encourages us to seek peace when possible and David found peace during times of God’s favor to the degree that even his enemies were at peace with him.
I have heard more than one or two people– in a shriveling voice within the body of Christ say that they feel awkward, unworthy, fearful, or scared that if they open their mouths for the Lord’s sake around religious folk that they would be looked upon with scorn. What in the World? I pray God’s grace upon me that if a brother or sister ever share their heart with me that I will simply pour out Grace like rain upon them. Yet, it’s funny how fast I say, “What in the world?”- and have “short-comings”of my own…so, there ya go.
Now– the world around us— there too Paul was not ashamed. All manner of men and women surrounded Paul as he went by boat and foot across the fields, valleys, rivers and seas. He saw it all from A-Z. Yet– he saw himself as a debtor to show love to All from A-Z and to tell them as much as possible about Jesus Christ bringing mankind back into sync with God. Me too- a debtor of love and The Message. At work– I don’t know if people get it- but, I love each customer and each worker and all who walk through the door. I don’t care where they have been or where they are going in life- when they meet me they are loved. Why– because I no longer look at men after my own selfish purposes. Rather, I look at men and women as those for whom Jesus Christ died. What if some decided to harm me directly or indirectly? Well, then I seek God’s Grace and enter more deeply as a recipient of Jesus Christ to love– and let me say, even Jesus before the cross struggled with what He was about to do. Is loving those who tell me to _________ always easy? Well, until now by God’s grace, it hasn’t been impossible. Can I share the gospel of Jesus Christ at work? No, I’m there to fulfill the marketing of a product. And yet, yes I can share Jesus in that people are loved. I don’t know always for sure that I’m going about it rightly–but, they are loved. The low, the high, the “intelligent” and “not so intelligent”, the elderly and the youth, those in high places and those of low stature, the innocent and the not so innocent–all means all.
Where does this boldness for the good news in Jesus Christ come from and this love? It comes from “Intimacy With Christ.” I have no other well from where and which to draw water from. It’s not in me 24/7. Sure, as Jesus said– even those out of sync with His Father do good to each other– and sure, there’s a measure of that in me. But, all in all– I find in Christ my strength my song. Am I an automaton? “If you prick me do I not bleed”? We are still human even though Christ pours into us His love for people and a boldness to share the good news of Jesus Christ even in the face of being called “mad” or “crazy” as Paul was called “due to his much learning.”
So, what’s this all about not being ashamed? It’s about– if you fall get back up and look to Jesus. It’s about not waiting until you’re 100% perfect. It’s about “because He first loved us- we love Him”–and so share that with others. It’s about–if someone presents the opportunity to share with them how Jesus loved them on the cross– share it. It means that if people who are “religious” cause fear—ignore them and rest assured– Your in better hands trusting Jesus than those who have taken religiosity to a level where you are to be muzzled because you have ________ and because you are not __________. Really, if you’re walking up to the level of light God has given you insight into-
Philippians 3:15,16
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
after having trusted in Jesus Christ- stumbling as it may seem under the shadow of His cross– He qualifies us to preach Him. He wants us to share that He said, “Come unto me all who are weary and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and my burden is light.”
Father God– to be “Intimate With Christ” we surely cannot be ashamed either before men who have been deemed or given themselves “high stature” as religious folk or before those who don’t care or are antagonistic to the good news. So, give us Your power to be Jesus’ witness of His love, giving us what we can never earn, not giving us what we deserve, sharing with us His life, and witnessing that He is Good- He’s simply- Good. Give us that perfect love (a true knowledge of the love with which You loved us and that love where with You have poured out into our hearts for You and Mankind) which casts out fear. Father, I pray you grant a change of heart and mind in those with whom I come in contact with. Help me to bless them. Lord, You are first not my “success in this world.” Me thinx Lord You taught Mother Theresa that. Teach me Lord. Father, for the brother or sister who happens to stumble across this– give them great boldness to not be ashamed of Jesus-Your Son. Give them clarity to describe that we receive right standing before you by faith in the risen Jesus Christ Your Son- rather than right standing by our own “good deeds” — our spotty, spotty good deeds. Lord, bless those I bless. Father, help people around me to dismiss the pettiness and to take up the important–Loving You and Loving their neighbor at the foot of the cross of Jesus. Lord, Paul said, “I am determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified”- as He was called to be a full time missionary. Me– I’m a worker bee Lord as are others and so, Lord- I’m determined to be “Intimate With Christ”–keeping it simple. Father, I just ask for meekness, gentleness, kindness, tenderness of heart, and for wisdom. Protect me my God from the darkness in this world–surround me with the multitude of Your Agents of good to promote the good news. In Jesus name I pray– AMEN.
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