I Am Not Ashamed
Romans 1:16 Silence is
not always golden, sometimes it is plain yellow. To say with Paul, "I
am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ," should be the testimony of
every Christian. Lack of witnessing to a lost world should be the
shame of all Christendom. Most are like those of Jeremiah's day: "They
were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush" (Jer. 6: 15). Where
is the blush in our faces today that it takes one thousand laymen and
six preachers to win a soul to Christ each year? Are we ashamed of our
sin or of the Saviour?
No need to be ashamed of "good news," which is what the word "gospel"
means. When I was a boy it was the ambition of every boy to become a
Western Union messenger. Sometimes the telegram delivered was not good
news. Our message today is good news. The best news in the world! And
it is really "news" to most people: They just haven't been told!
It is the "gospel of Christ," good news about the most wonderful
Person in the world! The good news that God loves man and Jesus Christ
died for him. It would be easy to tell a neighbor that every bill he
owed had just been paid in full by someone who loved him. With this
attitude about sharing the good news of Christ, anyone can witness.
Shortly after I was married, my wife and I went to my hometown. What a
joy to introduce my wife to my friends. It was easy because I was in
love with her. Can you imagine a Texan never mentioning Texas, or a
new father his baby?
All are conscious of power today. We built a rocket with enough power
first to get a man in orbit and now to get him to the moon, but the
gospel is "the power of God" to get a man all the way to heaven!
This salvation is "unto everyone that believeth." This poor world
knows so little about love, it is hard for men to believe God really
loves them so much or that there is no catch to it. How wonderful that
we don't have to be afraid that anyone will be disappointed in God or
be mistreated by Him. This is great news. Never be ashamed of the
gospel nor a shame to it. Let us go forth and broadcast this good news
cheerfully. |