Unashamed

Acts 8:36 – "As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, 'Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?'"

Baptism is, by its very nature, an act of humility. Standing before others to publicly declare your faith in Christ requires setting aside pride and concern for what people might think. Wet hair. Wet clothes. Nothing about baptism is designed to elevate self-image. And that is precisely the point.

Baptism symbolizes dying to the old self and rising to walk in newness of life. It is a public declaration that we have renounced self-rule in order to follow Christ. It is the beginning of a new path marked by humility, gratitude, and obedience.

The Ethiopian eunuch was eager to be baptized. He did not hesitate or worry about the opinions of others. He had discovered eternal life in Jesus Christ, and nothing else mattered. He was all in.

Romans 1:16 – "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

The Apostle Paul boldly declared, "I am not ashamed." That same confidence should characterize every believer. When we truly grasp what Christ has done for us—our sins forgiven, our eternity secured, and our relationship with God restored—there is no room for embarrassment. There is only gratitude and joy.

The Ethiopian eunuch understood this. He had found the treasure worth more than anything this world could offer. He went on his way rejoicing because he knew Jesus.

Don't allow the peer pressure of a fading world to steal your enthusiasm for Christ. Stand unashamed. Live boldly. And never hesitate to publicly identify with the One who gave everything to save you.

With Gratitude, Pastor Jesse