Outreach 3

Romans 1:16

During a bad spell in my employment history I had to take a job as a bagger at a local grocery store. For good or for bad I must confess I was a bit ashamed of my job. Here I was in my thirties with a college degree and years of professional work experience and I was bagging groceries alongside teenagers at their first job.

Although we may not use the words “I am ashamed” when we talk about our faith, often our actions seem to indicate that shame. So many Christians will not speak of their belief in God or discuss the salvation they know through Christ. They claim that it is a private matter and there is no need to discuss it. But the truth is just the opposite.

In Paul’s letter to the church at Rome he explains a great deal about his own ministry and his bold ability to share the message of Jesus. How does he feel about the gospel? What value does it hold?

These words from Paul are words that are meant for more than just the emerging church in Rome. His words are meant for every believer in the world. None of us should be ashamed of the gospel.

If we are loved by God, valued by the Almighty Creator of the universe, if the Lord loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die on the cross for our salvation, shouldn’t we be jubilant in that knowledge? Shouldn’t we be shouting this news from the rooftops?

And yet we do not. And when given the opportunity to share our story and our faith with others, those who NEED to hear this story, we shrink away from the chance. We act as if we are ashamed of what God has done for us.

It may be fear that keeps us mute. It may be a mistaken belief that faith is strictly a private affair. But it can be interpreted as a sense of shame over what God has done.

If we value God and our faith, we should be willing to go into all the world to proclaim our faith and tell the good news of Jesus.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be certain that your attitude and actions do not convey a sense of shame about he gospel?