Badge of Honor

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Mark 8:38

D.L. MOODY
I do not believe there is any false religion in the world that men are not proud of. The only religion of which I have ever heard that men were ashamed of is the religion of Jesus Christ. I preached two weeks in Salt Lake City, and I did not find a Mormon that was not proud of his religion. When, within forty miles of Salt Lake City, the engineer came into the car and wanted to know if I wouldn’t like to ride on the engine. I went with him, and in that forty-mile ride he talked Mormonism to me the whole time, and tried to convert me so that I would not preach against the Mormons. But how many, many times I have found men ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the only religion that gives men the power over their affections and lusts and sins!

ERWIN LUTZER
Why would any believer be ashamed of the gospel? The answer is that other religions appeal to what we can do—they tell us of the blessings that come to us. Christianity teaches that God can only help those who know they cannot help themselves! We must see ourselves as helpless and dependent solely on the death of the God-man on a cross two thousand years ago, who was raised from the dead and later taken to heaven. We must trust Him alone to take away our sins. 
Furthermore, Christians are often seen as joyless, judgmental, and in opposition to what the world loves; and so, because of these and other caricatures, we are often ashamed of the gospel. I pray this brief devotional will be used of the Lord to motivate us to be willing to be identified with Christ, seeing it a badge of honor. Let us say with Paul, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16)

PRAYER
Father, free me from fear of testifying to the gospel.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What makes the gospel unique compared to other religions?

Have you ever been afraid to share the gospel? If so, why do you think that is?