Not Ashamed of Christ

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33).

Spurgeon said,

Gracious promise! It is a great joy to me to confess my Lord. Whatever my faults may be, I am not ashamed of Jesus, nor do I fear to declare the doctrines of His cross. O Lord, I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart.

There are many ways to acknowledge or deny our Lord. And he is most gracious to us. Still, we do not want to be on the denying end do we? 

For many, if Jesus were more “Cool” they could tolerate Him. But no matter, we’ll help make the church He is building seem “cool.” Perhaps then, they think, folks will want to have him!? Oh? The call of Christ is to die, not to party. This has not been abrogated.

I pray--O, Lord, there are many today who are turning against the faith of our fathers. For some, being "cool" is not at issue. Rather, it is apparently not sophisticated enough for them? True, the past shows that many within her ranks have preferred ignorance to a well-informed battle. Anti-intellectualism has made its mark. These seem to think that the Gospel is not enough any more; it’s doctrines effete, un-intellectual. Now, somehow we need to “hold hands” with Rome, as if there weren’t enough blood on their hands, that now they need to draw the protestant church into agreement with them! Let us NOT deny our Lord, let us not “blush to speak His name or fear to own His cause.” But shall we turn away from You to other faiths? How? "To whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life!"

Spurgeon further adds:

Sweet is the prospect which the text sets before me! Friends forsake and enemies exult, but the Lord does not disown His servant. Doubtless my Lord will own me even here and give me new tokens of His favorable regard. But there comes a day when I must stand before the great Father. What bliss to think that Jesus will confess me then! He will say, "This man truly trusted Me and was willing to be reproached for My name's sake; and therefore I acknowledge him as Mine." The other day a great man was made a knight, and the Queen handed him a jeweled garter; but what of that? It will be an honor beyond all honors for the Lord Jesus to confess us in the presence of the divine Majesty in the heavens. Never let me be ashamed to own my Lord. Never let me indulge a cowardly silence or allow a fainthearted compromise. Shall I blush to own Him who promises to own me?