A young lady graduated as the overall best student from a Nigerian university. When interviewed by the dailies, her response surprised many; “Apart from studying diligently, I fasted, prayed, sowed financial seeds, and God rewarded my labours with outstanding success.” I asked myself; how many Christians can be this bold about their faith in public?
Friend, can you be bold about your faith in public (Romans 1:16)? Really, Christianity is not meant to be private. It is meant to be public. You cannot continue to say that your Christianity is in your heart while your words and actions do not show that you are one (Acts 4:13). We live in times where people want to sound logical than biblical. People want to be poltically correct than spiritually bold. What about you?
Do you hide your Christian faith so you can be acceptable by all? We must be careful not to shame Christ all in a bid to reach a wider audience (Matthew 5:16). Reaching a wider audience without the centrality of Christ and the gospel is only an effort in futility. These days, people edit out things that have to do with God and their faith in order to appeal to the world’s sentiments.
An average unbeliever or child of the devil is not afraid or ashamed to flaunt the devil and worldly ideologies. While should Christians be? Why do we think it is offensive to mention Christ and our faith in Him? Truly, the offence of the cross is a constant companion of the Christian faith (Romans 9:33). Remove it from your walk and work, and you assassinate the faith (Galatians 5:11).
Jesus emphasised in scriptures that if you deny Him before men, He would also deny you before the Father (Matthew 10:32-33). Perhaps this is the reason your prayers are not answered. You want Jesus to represent you before God, and you don’t want to represent Him before men. We need men and women who would make Jesus famous through their career and business (Daniel 2:46-49).
Christians need to be reminded that they are ambassadors of Christ, not ambassadors of the world (2 Corinthians 5:20). Why are people quick to sign up to be brand ambassadors of companies while neglecting to be brand ambassadors of Christ? Jesus is a brand. Christianity is a profession. We need people who would unashamedly profess their faith in Christ in the secular space (Acts 3:16). You can be one of them.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria