“ashamed of me” [Mark 8:38]

“ashamed of me”. ‘Who would be ashamed of Christ?’ we might ask – ashamed of One who went about doing good; whose words and teaching have been the foundation of the great.
Be religious if you will, or a church-goer or philanthropist and you will be commended. It is no threat to the hearer. But talk about Jesus and the reason for His coming to our world: talk the Gospel and immediately you throw out a challenge. Mentioning Jesus’ Name is an affront to the stronghold of Satan. It is a direct attack.
But if you love the Lord, how can you do otherwise? Yet the disciples of Jesus are often reticent to announce their allegiance to Him. Take your stand with the Apostle Paul who said, ‘I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ’.