Ashamed

Mark 8:38 (NIV)
³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Mark 8:38 (MSG)
³⁸ "If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I'm leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you'll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels."

We want to be included, to be accepted by those around us. After all, we were made for community, for fellowship. Perhaps everyone has had the experience of not speaking out on a particular matter for fear of ridicule or rejection. The desire to be like everyone else can be intense. It can be easy to see this in our children as they begin to chase after the latest thing, or the “in” brands. It may not be so easy to see this in ourselves as adults. We want to fit in and not be different.

But Jesus does call for us to be different. We are to be the light of the world. That does not leave much room for excuses. As we mature our identity should be more based on being children of God than children of the world around us. We should gratefully take joy for this privilege; for it is a most precious gift that God has given. Let us live in a way that gives honor and glory to God.