I Am Not Ashamed...

...but sometimes I feel like I am.
How many times have I been in the car with someone who I know isn't a Christian and my iPod changes to Hillsong or Bethany Dillon. Everything seems to be going fine until they hear the J word-Jesus.
Awkward silence comes over the car. They look out the window. I scramble to find the next button on the iPod, searching for some trash like some random Weezy song.
Why?
We're children of God. Why are we ashamed of what He's done for us?
Romans 1:16 "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."

How many times have I confessed God to be the Lord and Savior of my heart?
Hundreds.

How many times have I kept a Christian song on the radio even if I knew the person was uncomfortable.
Significantly less.

There are so many verses about standing up for God and confessing HE is the only one who should rule our hearts.

Why can't I be like Peter in the book of Luke? Peter confesses Christ as "The Christ of God". What does this mean? Peter said Christ was the Messiah. The Ruler. The Son.
Jesus says, "...whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? if anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."

Can you imagine God being ashamed of you? This is the God that loves everyone. Unconditionally. Always.

Maybe you're like me and like to make excuses.
What if someone asks me a question and I don't know the answer?
What if I stumble?
What if I say something and they immediately prove me wrong?

God's got your back.
Isaiah 41:10-11
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will stregthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish."

Brothers and Sister of Christ, please don't be ashamed. God has done something beautiful-He's letting us live in Him. Rejoice in the fact that we are alive through Him.
Don't be ashamed.
Keep the Christian song on your iPod.
It might spark something great in someone else.