ARE YOU ASHAMED OF GOD?

"And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me]. For whoever wants to save his higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel's will save it [his]higher, spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God]. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life in the eternal kingdom of God]? For what can a man give as an exchange (a compensation, a ransom, in return) for his [blessed] life in the eternal kingdom of God]? For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words in this adulterous (unfaithful) and [preeminently] sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory (splendor and majesty) of His Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:34-38 AMP)


     How many times have we had an opportunity to stand up for what we believe and we shrank back instead? How many times have we been presented with a situation when we could've told someone about the goodness of Jesus and we didn't because we figured they wouldn't like it?

     There have been many times when we, including me, have had opportunities to say something to someone and we just decided for whatever fleshly reason that we weren't going to "shake up the waters" per se. We didn't want to cause a commotion or we didn't want to "stir up trouble". We would think to ourselves, "Maybe it's not the right time" or "I don't want to offend anyone". We cannot be this way when it comes to sharing the good news of the Kingdom. We have to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus!! There are times when we will be presented with opportunities to "diminish" Jesus. Maybe you're an author who wrote a book about Jesus and in order to get the $10,000 sign-on bonus you say, "Okay I will take out the name of Jesus and replace it with something else." Or maybe you're a gospel artist who agrees to take the direct references to Jesus out of your music so it will get more "spins" on the radio. Or maybe you say, "I won't mention Jesus at this speaking engagement that I'm getting paid $15,000 for if I don't say His name then I can be faithful and tithe $1500 to my church!" And then you reason with God by saying, "It will get heard by more folks now or my book will get read by more folks now or I will get more speaking engagements now then when they talk to me I can tell them who I am in Jesus!"

     Well the problem is you already told them who you were when you compromised your values to gain the approval of the world. That's why the scripture says (and I'm paraphrasing for clarity), "...what does it profit a man to gain the approval of the world and lose his spot in eternity?" And even more importantly you told Jesus who you were by deciding not to tell them of Jesus publicly.

     You see we can't shrink back in these last days. We have to remember that it's not about numbers but about "is the message of Jesus reaching those whom God needs it to reach. There may be someone who God needs to get your book or buy your CD or attend your conference that really needs to hear about the delivering and healing power of Jesus. God sends people to you whether it's in a big public forum or just in line at the grocery store or dry cleaners. Every opportunity you get, make sure you first of all recognize it as a "kingdom appointment". Then boldly tell of how Jesus rescued you from where you were and brought you to where you are!

     You never know. Your testimony of how Jesus saved you will eventually save someone's soul. And then when you meet the Lord in the air, you will be able to hear Him say to YOU, "Well done my good and faithful servant, well done!"

God bless you!

Robert T Sells

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.