"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jews, then for the Gentile."--Romans 1:16

The story is told of an African pastor who had been visiting a village to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and was ordered not to return on pain of death. When he went home he realized that he had to tell the gospel, to share the good news of Jesus Christ. It was a while later that his friends found his body in the street of this village. When his friends went to his office and started going through his things, they found this note:

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me; my banner will be clear!

What more can be said? This is how I want to live my life and and my ministry. I want to be used up by God until I have nothing left. When He comes again, I want Him to see me with my banner raised high saying, "I have done what you asked, given what I could, lead a life employed by You!"

If I can let God use me in that way, I will come to the end of my life rejoicing in the fact that I gave all I could to my Lord and Savior. Are you unashamed of Christ? Do you belong to the fellowship of the unashamed?