Joyful Living Devotional - Day 11
Day 11 – Never Ashamed of the Good News
Philippians 1:20(NLT) For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.
On the wings of the prayers of the Philippians and the empowering work of the Spirit of Jesus in his life, Paul makes this declaration. “I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed…” Paul’s expectation and hope are not grounded in self-confidence or human bravado. They are grounded in the truth of the Gospel of Christ. His confidence to be bold for Christ rests on the knowledge that through the proclamation of the Good News, lives are forever changed.
When he writes this to the church in Rome: “Romans 1:14-17(NIV) I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
The Good News of Jesus brings salvation to those who believe. When Christ is preached, lives change. When Christ is embraced, eternal destinies are secured. When the gospel is believed, righteousness is imputed to unrighteous people. How can we ever be ashamed of the Good News's transformative power? We have the greatest news ever told, not just good news but the greatest news of all time! The good news of the Savior Jesus Christ!
The good news says we are forgiven. The good news says we are made free. The good news says we are loved. The good news says we are adopted. The good news says we are sons and daughters. The good news says we will live forever. The good news is not just good news; it is the greatest news ever proclaimed! The good news is the greatest news for those who receive Jesus as the Captain of their Salvation!
Born of a virgin, born in a stable, destined to die, yet in His death, burial, and Resurrection lies our redemption. Through His good news, the liar, the deceiver, the accuser, and their cohorts have received the worst news! The bondage of sin, the sting of death, the grip of the grave, and the terror of hell have been defeated! Therefore, the good news has become the greatest news, producing the highest hope, the most enduring peace, the deepest joy, and revealing the greatest love of all!
We can be bold in proclamation and steadfast in our witness, because to those who declare the Good News, shame is not in their future, regardless of what lies the enemy tries to perpetrate or what the world tries to elevate. The gospel is the power of God to those who believe! But there is more for us who believe. Because we have been recipients of the Good News, we have also become proclaimers of it, so that our lives can bring honor to Jesus, whether we live or die. This means we can have life to its fullest. Abundant life, a God-shaped life, a Christ-honoring life, both in life and in death. How can we lose?
Living life to its fullest can mean so many different things to different people. What does it mean to you? As a Christ follower, what should it mean? Will you be able to say what Paul said? He fully expected never to be ashamed and always to be a bold witness for Christ. He trusted that his life would bring honor to Christ, whether living or dying! What a powerful life stance.
As a Christ follower, living life to its fullest means living every day for the glory of Jesus and becoming more fruitful for the work of Christ. There is a subtle danger for those of us who claim spiritual maturity and years of so-called Christian experience, where we cash it in, retire, and feel we are done. If you are truly done, then why is Jesus not taking you home? If there is breath in your lungs, there should be purpose in your steps.
Why not use the rest of your days to help others grow and experience the joy of their faith? What are you waiting for? “Get busy living or get busy dying...” I suggest living!
Prayer:
Philippians 1:20(NLT) For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.
On the wings of the prayers of the Philippians and the empowering work of the Spirit of Jesus in his life, Paul makes this declaration. “I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed…” Paul’s expectation and hope are not grounded in self-confidence or human bravado. They are grounded in the truth of the Gospel of Christ. His confidence to be bold for Christ rests on the knowledge that through the proclamation of the Good News, lives are forever changed.
When he writes this to the church in Rome: “Romans 1:14-17(NIV) I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
The Good News of Jesus brings salvation to those who believe. When Christ is preached, lives change. When Christ is embraced, eternal destinies are secured. When the gospel is believed, righteousness is imputed to unrighteous people. How can we ever be ashamed of the Good News's transformative power? We have the greatest news ever told, not just good news but the greatest news of all time! The good news of the Savior Jesus Christ!
The good news says we are forgiven. The good news says we are made free. The good news says we are loved. The good news says we are adopted. The good news says we are sons and daughters. The good news says we will live forever. The good news is not just good news; it is the greatest news ever proclaimed! The good news is the greatest news for those who receive Jesus as the Captain of their Salvation!
Born of a virgin, born in a stable, destined to die, yet in His death, burial, and Resurrection lies our redemption. Through His good news, the liar, the deceiver, the accuser, and their cohorts have received the worst news! The bondage of sin, the sting of death, the grip of the grave, and the terror of hell have been defeated! Therefore, the good news has become the greatest news, producing the highest hope, the most enduring peace, the deepest joy, and revealing the greatest love of all!
We can be bold in proclamation and steadfast in our witness, because to those who declare the Good News, shame is not in their future, regardless of what lies the enemy tries to perpetrate or what the world tries to elevate. The gospel is the power of God to those who believe! But there is more for us who believe. Because we have been recipients of the Good News, we have also become proclaimers of it, so that our lives can bring honor to Jesus, whether we live or die. This means we can have life to its fullest. Abundant life, a God-shaped life, a Christ-honoring life, both in life and in death. How can we lose?
Living life to its fullest can mean so many different things to different people. What does it mean to you? As a Christ follower, what should it mean? Will you be able to say what Paul said? He fully expected never to be ashamed and always to be a bold witness for Christ. He trusted that his life would bring honor to Christ, whether living or dying! What a powerful life stance.
As a Christ follower, living life to its fullest means living every day for the glory of Jesus and becoming more fruitful for the work of Christ. There is a subtle danger for those of us who claim spiritual maturity and years of so-called Christian experience, where we cash it in, retire, and feel we are done. If you are truly done, then why is Jesus not taking you home? If there is breath in your lungs, there should be purpose in your steps.
Why not use the rest of your days to help others grow and experience the joy of their faith? What are you waiting for? “Get busy living or get busy dying...” I suggest living!
Prayer:
- Ask the Lord to give you boldness to pursue His purpose.
- Pray that you will become more fruitful even as your role in life changes.
- Pray that the Lord will energize you to start today and move beyond the excuses you use to justify not pursuing His plan.
- Take a moment to thank the Lord for the greatest gift of all, Jesus! Unto us a Child is born, and the government now rests on His shoulders… Thank You, Father, for the Good, the best, and the greatest news of all time and for all time!
Posted in Joyful Living Devotional