[This Reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 22/Mar/2020]
People from Missouri in the U.S. have a reputation. For a long time, folk have portrayed them as being too simple to believe anything they can’t see with their own two eyes. The saying goes: ‘I’m from Missouri; show me!’
Over and over again in Jesus’ ministry and throughout the book of Acts, we SEE amazing ‘signs and wonders’. THEN people are ready – no, DESPERATE to HEAR the good news! In Romans 1:16 Paul declares ‘… I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to every one who BELIEVES…‘ He can say that because it’s TRUE; the gospel has totally transformed him. AND EVERYONE CAN SEE IT!
Tim Keller says: “The opposite of ‘ashamed of the gospel’ is not ‘proud to be a Christian’. The opposite of ‘ashamed of the gospel’ is ‘passionate to spread the gospel’“.
If I use the excuse that ‘I’m too self-conscious’ or ‘I’m not very out-going’, could it be that I’m afraid people might want to see past whatever words I’m struggling to find? Am I afraid they might be asking, ‘Show me!’?
In prayer recently, the Holy Spirit said he wanted to lead us into radical HONESTY. A place where we let him take off our Christian masks and become brave enough, humble enough and REAL enough, to let folk around us see us as we are, faltering yet faithful. Then there’s a good chance people from Missouri (or Horley) will say, ‘Okay. NOW I SEE!
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Contributed by Dennis Ginter; © the Author
