11/14/13:

TFTD: “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” –Mark 8:38

First of all I just want to say that if you haven’t read the book of Mark you definitely should. Of course that “should” applies to the entire bible (which I have not read all of either). But the book of Mark is written in a style that I think most of us would understand the best. It is short and to the point. Chapter 8 is the perfect example of this because there are a couple of stories that show up in other Gospels, but are short and sweet in Mark. Anyway, on to my idea for the morning: shame. If you ask my wife, for those of you who know her, she would probably tell you that I don’t have much shame. There aren’t too many things I wouldn’t do because I would be too embarrassed or afraid of what others might think of me if I did (which helps when you are doing youth ministry). But I always find myself struggling, when talking to someone new or someone that I don’t know, to ask them about their beliefs or stance on certain issues. It’s weird right. I am in school to do this for a living and it is the biggest struggle that I have. It’s not that I am ashamed of my beliefs or my God… or is it?

            It is so easy for us in today’s society to want the approval of others that we forget that we already have all the approval we need. If someone were to be standing in front of you and ask you about your beliefs, how much easier would it be to disregard our Father in heaven rather than the person who is standing across from you because God doesn't appear to be with us or physically present. But what is the promise that Jesus makes the disciples and ultimately makes to us? I will be with you always, to the end of the age. That is the promise. There is nothing greater than knowing that He is always with us, that we have already received His approval, and there was and is nothing we can do to deserve it. Nothing! I encourage you to live the Romans 1:16 version of the Gospel: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” I am unashamed!

“If we wait until we know everything before we start sharing, we will never share because no one knows all the mysteries of God.” –Zig Ziglar