Keep Watch With Me!

Matthew 26:38

Then he said to them, My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.

The Cubs won the World Series in baseball. It has been a long time since that was last typed. This ended a 108-year drought – a period longer than any other Major League Baseball team.

There are Cub fans that haven’t experienced a winning season very often much less winning the title. Yet many Cub fans are diehard fans – win or lose (and they often lost) – they supported their team. Around here the Orioles went 14 seasons without having a winning season and many fans departed and haven’t come back – even though they have started to win again and have been to the playoffs recently. The Nationals have been favorites before the season a few times to win the World Series (on paper) and when they didn’t achieve those lofty goals – some fans departed. Let’s not get started on the Redskins or the Ravens around here or Maryland Football/Basketball.

At times – things won’t go our way. At times – things will actually go wrong. How will we deal with the tough times? Will we stay strong – win or lose? Will we follow the cause – no matter what happens? Will we run the race and fight the fight? Will we stay the course?

You Gotta Tell Somebody!

Romans 1:16

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

I was in Galesville on the evening of October 31^st – visiting with a family as we planned the celebration of life for their 84-year-old patriarch.  Families were all over the community – dressed in all sorts of costumes – going house to house looking for free candy!  I noticed some older children dressed up as well – they had to be teens – maybe even older teens.  They too were going house to house looking for free candy.  I guess the lure of free candy helped them overcome the embarrassment of dressing up in a costume and doing what little children do.

Recently I attended an NFL football game – thanks to a friend of mine.  As we walked through the stadium I saw in person what I often saw on TV – grown people dressed in ridiculous looking outfits – supporting their favorite team.  I guess being a fan – short for fanatic – will lead you to do some crazy things – that and a few adult beverages.

I’m sure we could come up with a few more examples.  The point – of course – is that too many Christians seem embarrassed to witness their faith – but have little trouble doing other things that embarrass them – like screaming at a ball game (or worse – at your TV).

The passage today says: I am not ashamed of the gospel.  We might need to ask ourselves – are we?  Many seem ready to cover their homes – cars – work stations and more with items that support their favorite team or their favorite candidate for whatever elected position – yet have a hard time with being public about their faith.

My favorite team – even if they win the Super Bowl this year or any year – will not impact me more than a temporal sense of happiness (happiness is circumstantially driven).  Yet – if I could – by witnessing about Jesus – be used of God to turn a heart toward Jesus – that is a joy that is eternal (joy is spiritually derived).

The passage says:  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.  We often say – you gotta tell somebody about Jesus.  Telling someone about Jesus – witnessing your faith – may very well have eternal consequences.  Not telling someone about Jesus may also have eternal consequences.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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