God Speaking

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jews and then the Gentiles.” (Romans 1:16)

Some time ago I heard a story, used by a speaker in a service I was attending, of a young man who after listening to a powerful sermon in which the pastor entreated his listeners to allow Jesus to be part of their lives, begged Jesus to come and be his constant companion. When he returned to his car at the end of the church service, Jesus was sitting in the passenger seat. The young man was delighted and they spent a lovely afternoon talking together as real friends. The next morning he was surprised to find Jesus waiting to go to work with him. All day he was surprised to feel Jesus’ presence with him and he was careful not only of his language, but of how he spoke and acted with his fellow employees. At the end of the day it was the custom for the young man to go to the bar with some friends, again he was surprised to see Jesus in the passenger seat waiting to go with him. “Surely, Jesus you do not want to come to the bar with me”? Jesus replied, “Didn’t you ask me to be part of your life? Is this what you do after work, then I will go with you”. So wherever the young man went that week, Jesus went with him. This scenario was repeated every day for the next week and the young man began to look at his life in quite a different way when he knew Jesus was right beside him. Eventually the young man felt ashamed to think that on Sunday he had begged Jesus to be his constant companion, and yet here he was choosing when and where he would let Jesus into his life. He began to notice how comforting it was to have him constantly with him and how different and rewarding his life had become.

Last week at the end of his sermon our pastor read to us all, a powerful letter entitled “Fellowship of the Unashamed”. It was written by an African pastor and the words spoke volumes in answer to Jesus’ words in Mark 8:38. I have included the first two paragraphs.

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed.

The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.

The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His.

I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure

I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning

smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking

cheap living and dwarfed goals.

The first sweet fictional story and this powerful letter hold wonderful moral lessons for us all and we have to look at our own lives to check if we are a bit embarrassed to have Jesus right beside us in some areas of our lives.

Being unashamed of the gospel brings great rewards for us and when we allow Jesus to be part of every area of our lives we enter into what becomes a divine union. We immediately acquire an understanding, loving companion who loves us without question. We gain a defender, someone to contend for us when troubles assail us. We are led by a guide who knows the safe paths to traverse. We have a great source of wisdom to turn to when perplexing problems arise. Our life becomes meaningful and rewarding. No entry fee charged, we are all invited to join, Fellowship of the Unashamed and to receive all the benefits of membership.