Thanks for once again reading the message, and thank you all for your prayers. I hope that you are all doing well this week.
Today, we are going to finish our study from Mark 8 as we continue to go chapter by chapter and verse by verse through the book of Mark. We have taken our time going through this chapter as there was so much for us to consider in it.
The last verse of the chapter is what we will consider today. Jesus tells us that if we are ashamed of Him in this life, He will be ashamed of us when He comes again. This is a sobering thing to ponder. What does it mean?
I think that there are two meanings in this. There is a meaning for both those who identify as Christians and for non-Christians. For non-Christians I believe what Jesus is saying is that if a person does not recognize Him and want to follow Him in this life, He will not recognize them when He comes again. In other words, Jesus is saying that the time to acknowledge Him is now because when He comes again it will be too late. It is the same as what James said when he said today is the day of salvation. Jesus also said that when He comes it will be like a thief in the night. No one will know, so we need to be ready should He come at any time.
Now, I also think that there is something in this for the Christian. Let me qualify that. For those who claim to be Christians. There are those who say that they are Christians, but they deny the fact and are ashamed of Jesus in two different ways.
First of all, they show that they are ashamed of Jesus because they say they have faith but they have no deeds. It is just like James said, faith without works is dead. These are people who you might know for decades yet you would have no idea that they had a relationship with Jesus Christ. They want to remain a private Christian so to speak.
Also, there are those who show that they are ashamed of Jesus because they do boldly say they follow Him, but in reality they do the exact opposite of everything that He taught. Let me give you an example.
There are a lot of people in this world who talk about being a Christian. Then they go into the public sphere and advocate for everything that is the opposite of what Jesus said to do. They are against helping the poor, taking care of creation or making sure that people can even have what is necessary to live a decent life.
Jesus said that on the day of judgment there will be many who will come and say to Him Lord, Lord. His response will be, "I never knew you."
Let all of us who say that we are Christians be unashamed followers of Jesus and His teachings. Let people know by what you do and by what you say that you are a follower of Jesus and that He is the Lord of your life. If you don't know Jesus, come to Him today and then tell others what a difference Jesus has made in your life. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please keep praying for me in regard to my health and with regard to finding a job. I am having some really weird health problems. Also, please pray that the money I am expecting will arrive. I need it so that I can implement something I believe the Lord wants me to do.
Keep praying for peace. Pray for Ukraine, for peace in the Middle East and for peace in Sudan. Pray for peace wherever you know there is war.
Pray for and end to the Ebola outbreak in Africa.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Maldives and China. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will start Mark 9. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all.
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