Devotions

THE WORLD IS NOT ASHAMED, WHY SHOULD I BE? 

• Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the Gospel

George Stansberry told of meeting an Asian man years ago who had been a Kamikaze pilot in WW 2.  His name was Chow Mein.  George asked him how he was able to escape death as a suicide pilot.  His reply was that he was Chicken Chow Mein.  Now I haven’t really called anyone a chicken since I was a kid but I wonder how many Christians are afraid to share their faith or to take a stand for Jesus.  And that’s a shame because the world outside the Church is not ashamed of the message they are promoting.   The Apostle Paul was not ashamed of the contents of the gospel, for it had brought salvation to him.  Neither was he ashamed of the compiler of the gospel because he had met Him on the Damascus road.  And he was not ashamed of the consequences of the gospel because it brought salvation to anyone who would surrender.   There’s a good sermon outline Church.

• I am not ashamed of the contents of the Gospel – (The words of God)
• I am not ashamed of the compiler of the Gospel – (God Himself)
• I am not ashamed of the consequences of the Gospel – (Salvation offered)

If God had left it to me to choose 12 men who would take the gospel to the corners of the earth, I would have chosen three of the world’s wealthiest men, three of the greatest attorneys, three of the greatest businessmen and three of the world’s greatest orators.  But the Lord walked along the lake shores and called humble fishermen and one hated IRS tax man named Matthew.  With these 12 diamonds in the rough he was going to win the world. That trickle became a brook, that brook became a river, that river became an ocean of saved souls seeking sinners for a sacrificial Sovereign Savior.  In less than 50 years hundreds of thousands had become Christians.  I am not ashamed of a gospel that can do that.  I have seen fathers returned and homes restored – I am not ashamed of a gospel that can do that.  I’ve seen folks come out of addiction and life wrecking habits – I am not ashamed of a gospel that can do that.  I have seen hope restored, grace received, and love returned by people who had no hope, knew of no grace, and never felt love – I am not ashamed of a gospel that can do that.