[Jesus speaking]
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.

If I rely on someone for my very life, my protection, my provision, and my personal growth, why would I be ashamed of them?

In sales, one of the most effective ways of gaining business is through referrals. There are different levels of referrals, based on the level of intent behind it.

There are anonymous handoffs, where the person does not want you to use their name for various reasons. There are safe referrals given, these are referrals that have three names associated with them. This way, there can be little impact on the referrer if the service or solution does not please their client. And then there are the “you have to talk to this person, they are the best”-type of referrals. These are typically given with full trust that the party referred to will perform. Many times a meeting is held to hand off the referral.

While there are many good reasons for giving lower quality referrals, sometimes the main reason is a lack of trust in the firm or person referred. Or there is fear, even if this person is trusted, that something could go wrong.

When I think about this passage, I think about the times I have wrestled with whether or not to share about my relationship with Jesus. Sometimes it is due to timing and relationship building, thinking it may be better received later. But other times it has been out of shame or embarrassment. I knew these people needed Jesus but I was worried about how they would receive him, or if I would be penalized or persecuted due to mentioning his name.

When I think back about those instances, I realize I sinned. Why? Because I did not care enough to put my worries aside and share the truth. The warning is clear here, God will not recognize us and grant us access into heaven if we are ashamed of him. If we do not stand for the truth and bear his name proudly, are we really his children?

And so I have become more bold as I grow closer to Jesus. I don’t worry as much about shame, though this fear pops up from time to time still. My desire to see lives changed is a far greater reward than the potential shame is a consequence.

I believe this is part of what Jesus is getting at. If a person does not get to a place where they can share Jesus without shame, then do they really have a relationship with him that is changing them? God’s Spirit changes us from the inside out. This change should impact our witness in the world. Our light should continue to SHINE BRIGHTER!

Lord, thank you for your truth here that shame has no place in the heart of a true believer. The temptation may be there, but our love for others, modeled after Christ's love for us, should always overcome it. Continue to work in my heart to make me more and more bold to proclaim the gospel. It is the life-saving relationship that everyone needs. And sharing it should not be conditional on their response.