Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory...'

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Are you ashamed of Jesus? Well, let me start again - do any of these questions apply to you:

• Do you believe you are a Christian: Yes/No
• Do others know you are a Christian: Yes/No
• Do you tell others you are a Christian: Yes/No

Now there is absolutely no shame in answering 'No' to some of these questions, and certainly I would have had problems at different stages of my life, since it seemed easier then to answer 'yes' to any questions about God the Father and to the Holy Spirit, rather than about Jesus. We are all different, and it can be extremely hard for Christians to talk about their faith with others.

Lent might be a time to ask God for help, and to move one stage forward on your faith journey. Perhaps this Lent you could include simple tasks or actions based on the questions above to show your Christian faith to others. Look at the ideas under Further Thoughts below, if so.

Lord Jesus Christ,
give us the confidence
to trust You and Your words;
to show others through our actions
and our speech that we are Christians;
and that we am not ashamed of You.
Amen.