Verse of the week: Embarrassment?

So today as I was driving to work singing to the Lord I was getting flashbacks. And not the good kind either - the kind that make you cringe as you remember different things that you have done in your past. I was remembering times that I did outlandish things when praising the Lord and thinking that I was being super spiritual when really I was just being an embarrassment. At a stop light I put my hands over my face and prayed, "Lord I am so sorry for all the times that I have been so weird in worship - because it was more about me than it was about you."

He said to me, "Charissa, I am never embarrassed by you."

I was about to say the same thing back to him - but then I couldn't. I couldn't say that I was never embarrassed to say that I was a Christian or embarrassed by how much I love Jesus. I remember times when I could have shared the Gospel but I chose not to because of fear and embarrassment. That brings us to today's verse.

1 Corinthians 9:16

"Woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel!"

1 Corinthians 9:16

Everything in life comes down to a simple task - that also equals to the hardest task - following Jesus. And if I am a follower of Christ - then I must be a preacher of the Gospel. I am really good at the silent preacher. The one who doesn't say anything but just live my life hoping that others will see Christ in me - I think that they do - at least I hope they do. But the verbal preacher - one who goes out and tells people what they need to hear... that I am not. The Message Bible says "I'm compelled to do it." Aren't we all? Compelled to tell the Gospel in a way that people will hear it. Whether it be with words or actions - compelled to live in a way that says "I'm not embarrassed of my Lord." This is what I desire. To live a life compelled to follow Jesus.