About running the risk of embarrassment…
Acts 9:19 Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once
he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those
who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc
in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take
them as prisoners to the chief priests?" (NIV)
People will take a lot of heat and persecution for their beliefs. However,
the defining moment for most people is whether they are willing to run the risk
of embarrassment to proclaim the truth about their faith. In this regard, Paul
knew what people were thinking about Paul's proclaiming Christ as Lord. Paul
knew what people were saying about his proclaiming the gospel of Christ, and
Paul knew what people would say in the future. However, after being struck blind
by the Light of God, after hearing the voice of God in the form of the voice of
Christ, Paul didn't care about being embarrassed. After his experience on the
Damascus road, the last thing on Paul's mind was what people thought of him. In
each of us, we must seek that kind of fire in our heart to do and proclaim the
gospel of Christ. None of us should ever be concerned about whether we will be
accepted or rejected for our faith. For if we are concerned about whether we are
accepted or rejected for our faith, we do not believe enough, trust enough, or
hold our faith to be all that our faith can be. The power of our faith comes
from our willingness to invest all we have and our willingness to risk all we
have to live and proclaim our Christ as our savior and Lord.
