Daily Devotional

We're all interested in the news nowadays, praying we hear something good. Most of the time we're proud to share the good news we have. Whether it's our children receiving an achievement, a new birth in a family, or we receive a promotion at work, we love sharing good news.

The word gospel most commonly translates to "good news". So when looking at Scripture, we have to ask; why would anyone be ashamed of good news? It's because this good news draws a proverbial line in the sand and submitting to it will separate you from the ways of the world. As we are reminded with baptisms, the gospel demands we die to ourselves and allow Jesus to control our lives. And that goes against the current of this world causing people to criticize us.

When we are ridiculed for something we believe, shame can creep in. But once we understand the gospel is God's Word, and there's power in God's Word, and those who believe in it have salvation, we can move past shame completely. And on the other side of shame is confidence and confidence may be one of the most powerful tools we can have, humanly speaking, when living out the gospel in our own lives. When we KNOW God's Word is alive and active and has the power to save, there is no shame. Just confidence.

It can be difficult to be confident in what we do. We don't want to come off as arrogant or full of ourselves. But putting confidence in the power of Scripture is necessary for personal and spiritual growth. Be confident in the Bible. Be comfortable not knowing everything. And be cautiously aware that God is giving us the confidence we need to fulfill His will.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.