It’s Nothing Personal . . . - Romans 8:15-16

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” - Romans 8:15-16     I often find myself in those “situations” where I’m compelled to make a comment on the graciousness of our Heavenly Father. Inevitably, I get “the look.” To be fair, I am seldom told by anyone, “I don’t believe in God.” So. I pursue it. Then I see the squirms and the uncomfortable glances until one of the group quietly remarks that, “Well . . . a person’s faith is . . . a very personal subject.” Read: not up for discussion! My acquaintances need to understand - it isn’t personal now, but it soon could be very personal.     I don’t know what faith they are talking about but my faith - faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is not a forbidden subject due to it’s personal implications. "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'" - Mark 16:15.     I don’t really know why these people don’t want to discuss - SHOUT- the grace of God through Jesus Christ at every opportunity, but I fear there may be a component of vacillation on their part - not a good idea!  "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26. Or maybe they simply aren’t “believers.” For these people I continually pray that the Holy Spirit will one day illuminate their minds and hearts and souls. As for those who claim to believe, the excuses for not witnessing in the name of Jesus vary from fear of rejection to sheer ignorance of the Gospel. But Christ, Himself, has instructed us - “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8.     As far as those who simply refuse to speak boldly of their faith in Jesus Christ goes ? “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 10:32-33. So you see; maybe, just maybe, it is personal.     May God, by the Holy Spirit, always strengthen our voices to speak boldly of the grace we have received through Jesus Christ.