Are You Ashamed of the Gospel?

The appointed Epistle for the daily prayer of the Church is taken from the first chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Romans; he writes:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse; for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools; and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen.  (Rm. 1:16-25).

“I am not ashamed of the gospel.”  Paul was bold in his proclamation of the gospel.  He spread the good news of Jesus to everyone no matter what the cost, even it is landed him in prison.  How many of us can honestly say that we are not ashamed of the gospel?  Have you ever been embarrassed to be a Christian in your place of work, with friends, or with family? Have you ever said a blessing at a restaurant, or would you be embarrassed to do so?  What would Paul do?

Let us pray:  Gracious Father, you gave your only begotten Son to die for us on a cross, yet there are times when we are embarrassed to proclaim his name in public.  Send your Holy Spirit to give us courage to proclaim the good news of salvation to everyone we meet by the way we live our lives.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

This Wednesday, the Lenten Series continues at 6 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church on 1115 36th Street on the Island. This week we will hear from Fr. Peter and Br. Michael, monks of the Order of St. Benedict.

This Friday and Saturday, Wine Glass and Art Class with Lee Runion.

We will host St. Christopher’s quiet day and vestry planning day at St. Augustine’s this Saturday.

Adult Christian Education continues this Sunday with Jillian and Tom Bain as they lead us through the Scripture behind Handel’s Messiah.  Please come and join this wonderful study.

Remember to collect those paper towel tubes and oatmeal containers for the Summer Art Camp at St. Augustine’s.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550