Day 6 – Not Ashamed of the Gospel

Day 6 — Not Ashamed of the Gospel

Opening prayer

Lord God, as I begin this second week, please search my heart and teach me through your Word. Deepen my love for Jesus, strengthen my confidence in the gospel, and help me not to be ashamed of the good news that saves. Amen.

Headline

The gospel is worth sharing because it is not merely good advice, but the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.

Romans 1:14-17

Comment

Last week we thought about the treasures we find in Christ.

We considered the truth that sets us free, the love of the Father who adopts us as his children, the glory of knowing his delight now and fully when we see Jesus face to face, and the new life Christ gives by his Spirit.

These treasures are not simply ideas to understand. They are blessings to enjoy. God wants us not only to know about his goodness, but to know it personally — to taste and see that the Lord is good.

But it doesn’t end there.

When we have found something wonderful, we naturally want to tell others. Our pleasure in what we have discovered cannot easily be corked. It bubbles up out of us. We tell people about a great café, a beautiful holiday spot, a helpful doctor, a new grandchild, or even a good TV series.

A newly discovered Christian faith is no different. Becoming a Christian is such an indescribable joy: the joy of knowing that we do not have to prove ourselves to God; the joy of being adopted as his children; the joy of having an inheritance that can never be lost; the joy of beginning a new life in Christ.

So it is natural and right that we would want to share that joy.

That is why this series is called Worth Sharing. The aim is to help us become more willing and able to step out of our comfort zones, speak about Jesus, and invite others to consider him for themselves.

But it is not that simple, is it?

Just as we need to be honest about the joys of having Christian faith, we also need to be honest about how difficult it can be to share that faith. This week we will think about some of the things that hold us back.

And we begin with Paul’s words in Romans 1:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” (v.16)

That is a striking thing to say. If Paul says he is “not ashamed” of the gospel, it probably means he knew the temptation to feel ashamed.

The gospel can look weak. It centres on a crucified man. It tells us we are sinners who need forgiveness. It says that Jesus is Lord, that his cross is the only way to be saved, and that everyone must respond to him in faith. That message has always sounded offensive to some and foolish to others.

So we can feel ashamed. We may fear being thought strange, narrow, arrogant or naïve. We may fear awkwardness, rejection, or the raised eyebrow across the table. Sometimes it seems easier to keep quiet.

But Paul was not ashamed because he knew what the gospel is.

It is not merely a religious opinion. It is not simply a lifestyle choice. It is not good advice for people who like that sort of thing. It is “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”

That means when we speak of Jesus, we are not offering people a hobby, a tradition, or a moral improvement program. We are pointing them to the saving power of God.

Of course, that does not remove all fear. Speaking of Christ may still feel costly. It may still take us across a pain-line. But it gives us confidence. The gospel is not weak, even when we feel weak. The gospel is not ineffective, even when our words feel inadequate. God saves through this message.

Why does God want you to hear this today? Perhaps because you need to remember what the gospel is. It is the good news that saved you, and it is still the power of God to save others. So do not be ashamed of it. Pray instead that God would make you grateful for it, confident in it, and ready to share it.

Reflect

• When are you most tempted to feel ashamed of the gospel or to keep quiet about Jesus?
• What does Romans 1:14–17 teach you about the gospel and why it is worth sharing?
• Who in your life needs to hear the good news that the gospel is the power of God for salvation?

Action

Take a few minutes today to write down the names of two people you would love to see come to faith in Jesus.

Pray for them using Romans 1:16:

“Lord, please help them to hear and believe the gospel, because it is your power for salvation.”

Closing prayer

Lord God, thank you for the gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Forgive me when I feel ashamed of it, or when I keep quiet because I fear what others may think. Deepen my confidence in your saving power, and help me to speak of Jesus with humility, courage and love. Amen.