Those are some strong words. Take a moment and think of what being ashamed of Him and His words would look like. What would that practically look like lived out in your life today, in your workplace, in your family? What would being ashamed keep you from saying? What beliefs would it keep you from sharing?
Seriously consider the answers to those questions, and then consider what 'tolerance', 'political correctness', and the world's definition of being 'loving' and not judgmental in 'this present age' would look like in those same situations.
If they look the same, consider whose tactic that is. Whose 'scheme' (2 Cor. 2:11) do you think we've fallen into?
"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. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'But the righteous man shall live by faith.' For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them." Romans 1:16-19
Wouldn't it be true that the hard 'truth' that we are tempted to 'lovingly' withhold is not so loving to withhold. May we rise up and speak THE TRUTH in love.
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." 2 Tim 2:15
May we be equipped and built up, that we will not "..be tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but being truthful in love, let us grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,..." (Eph. 4:14,15).
Lord, raise us up to be loving 'truth speakers'. May we not, in fear, hide away the only answer to the world's maladies.
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