Confession: Ashamed of Jesus!

Ashamed of Jesus! Our dear Redeemer, we have read of Thy weeping at the grave of Lazarus. We have been made to feel how near akin Thou art to us. Thou art no stranger: Thou art no great noble set high above us, ashamed of us; Thou art not ashamed to call us brethren. And we have said in our hearts, "Have I ever been ashamed to own Him in any company?" We are ashamed to think that ever the bare idea of being ashamed of Christ should have crossed our spirits.

"Ashamed of Jesus, just as soon, Might midnight blush to think of noon."

We are nothing: Thou art everything. We are poor worms of the dust, and Thou art the Eternal Son of God. We are disgusted with ourselves that there ever could have been a temptation to be ashamed of the Crucified, ashamed of the soft impeachment that we are indeed Thy followers. Forgive us Saviour! Because of Thy great tenderness, put this away also among all our other sins, and mention it not against us for ever that such a wicked cowardliness could have made us so hold our tongue when we ought to have spoken for Thee. From henceforth may we be able to say—

"I'm not ashamed to own my Lord Or to defend His cause."

But we thank Thee for ever coming so near us, and our prayer is that we may have the grace to-day to feel very near to Thee. Thou art not strange to Thine own flesh, and shall we be strange to Thee? Great Bridegroom, Thou lovest us, and Thou dost delight in us, and shall we not delight ourselves in Thee? Come, take away the hardness of our hearts, and give us now to be quick and tender, sensitive to Thy love. Melt the wax, and then impress Thine image on it, and make us bear the faintest touch of Thy finger throughout the whole of life. Oh for want of sensitiveness, how we miss the highest privileges Thou dost bestow. Make us very tender. Oh that we might yield to Thy sweet love with all our hearts; and since Thou art the Man that is near akin to us, may we rejoice in Thee beyond all things, and find our heaven in the effects of Thy relationship to us. Amen.