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.”     Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)
I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL! I am not embarrassed, humiliated, or reluctant to stand for the Good News. I stand for this Good News that may seem at best a paradox to the world and some may see it as…ridiculous. It is a paradox and ridiculous because it is at once power and pure love. It is in the love that there is power. Most would find that absurd.
I am not ashamed that this Good News is for EVERYONE! Paul, a Jew, wants to make sure that his Roman audience knows that this salvation is for Jews and for Gentiles. There is no one who is reading the letter who will find themselves left out. If I were to write such a letter today, I might send it to Jew and Palestinian. I watch the events of the last week and I fall to my knees that the power of this Good News may pierce the hearts of all those who seem only to see themselves as right and so any opposition must die. There is no salvation in their belief system except for those who agree with them.
God is calling out for us to come and live with Him in humility; receiving His love as a beautiful, free gift. It is in living with God that I find the abundance of grace and mercy. My heart is tenderized by God’s extravagant and unfailing love. God wants to fill me so full of His presence, His love, that I will ‘leak’ on everyone around me.
I AM NOT ASHAMED to live by faith. I am not reluctant to say that I need everything and can get nothing without my Lord. Each day begins and ends with my hands out to God, counting on Him to provide and guide me every step that the day requires. It is not sitting and expecting God to drop everything into my lap. It is keeping my eyes turned to Him and my ears tuned to Him so that I stay in God’s path.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge: I will tell of all your deeds.           Psalm 73:26-28 (NIV)
