(The following is the February 21 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Mark 8 and pay close attention to verses 34-38.)
Have you ever been ashamed of someone? Perhaps a family member did something publicly humiliating, and you wanted to distance yourself from that person or the public for a time. Maybe a trusted leader or friend broke that trust, and you were ashamed to be associated with them. Of course, we can feel shame due to our sinful actions that humiliate us and hurt others.
In the closing verses of Mark 8, Jesus talked about denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following him. He warned that worldly gains are worthless if we lose eternal life pursuing them. Then he said, “For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (v. 38).
It’s one thing to be ashamed of a human. It’s quite another to be ashamed of Jesus. Perhaps some of these scenarios sound familiar:
- You work in a business with few Christians and fear negative consequences if you are vocal about your faith.
- You fear rejection by certain school groups if they know you are a Christian.
- You live in a culture where severe physical or societal persecution is possible for expressing your faith.
- You avoid conflict even if it requires hiding your beliefs.
Jesus was clear about following wherever he leads and whatever the cost. He warned that if we are ashamed of him, he will be ashamed of us when he comes again. Remember: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” (Jim Elliot). *
Next Step:
Pray for courage to overcome moments when tempted to hide your Christian faith. If you recall previous such failures, is there a way to correct them through conversations with those involved?
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* Justin Taylor, “He Was No Fool,” Between Two Worlds, The Gospel Coalition (blog), January 9, 2010, http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/he-ws-no-fool.
