If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38
We live a time where everything is supposed to be acceptable. We are supposed to condone everyone’s actions. We mislead not only others but also ourselves when we accept actions that go against God’s code of ethics. We may face condemnation on this earth for standing up for our faith, but we will receive a much greater reward which will last throughout eternity for staying true to our faith. God did not just address moral issues a few times in the Bible. Rather He addressed them frequently because He knows that His people will be faced with moral decisions every day of their lives. He knows that peer pressure can be overwhelming and the threat of being fired over standing for your beliefs may be a reality. And so God continually reminds us that staying true to Him has a much greater reward than anything we can receive on this earth. His reminders are not to condemn us but to encourage us to keep striving to live a life pleasing to Him.
My prayer tonight is that we all keep fighting the good fight. We resist the temptations of this world and know that God will greet us in Heaven with those glorious words “well done good and faithful servant.” Pleasing God has far greater rewards than pleasing humans. So tonight if you are faced with temptation or struggles or need to stand for your faith, ask God for strength to withstand the pressures of this world. Ask the Holy Spirit to help guide your words and actions. He will amaze you as to how He can renew your strength. Know that you are not alone standing for the truth.