And Will Not Be Ashamed....

But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.—Acts 24:14-16

How do I react when I am accused of being a fundamentalist religious fanatic who believes that the Bible is the literal word of God?  I want my response to be similar to Paul’s. Guilty as charged!  In the world today love of God is very often despised...and at times even seen as a hate crime. May I never draw back from fear but by Your grace move forward in faith proclaiming Your wonderful name.  

I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings,

And will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in Your commandments,

Which I love. My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments,

Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes.—Psalm 119:46-48

"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.—Matthew 10:32-33

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.—Philippians 1:27-30

Father, 

Let me not be silent. Your love to me is better than life.  By Your Holy Spirit, let me speak Your name with grateful love and reverence not fearing the ridicule and hatred that might come from men but desiring instead the praise that is from You.   I will look to You and be radiant...my face unashamed.  

I will love You, O LORD, my strength. I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You.  I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name. In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.—Ps 18:1; Ps 138:1-3