For I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ

Hello!

This week I have been thinking a lot about following Jesus Christ and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. My missionary companion pulled out this poem and I immediately fell in love with it.

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.

The dye has been cast! 

I have stepped over the line. 

The decision has been made; 

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

I won’t look back, let up, slow down, or be still.

 My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. 

I’m finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tainted visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits or popularity. 

I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, and my goal is Heaven.

My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear!

I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided 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, or let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up, for the cause of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till I know, and work till He stops me. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ," (Romans 1:16)

In Philippians 4:13 Paul states, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.', and also in the Doctrine & Covenants 24:7 it says, 'For thou shalt devote all thy service in Zion, and in this thou shalt have strength.' It seems like such a blessed cycle. We have to do our best to represent the Savior and to do what we know to be true, but all the while He is still blessing us with the strength that we need to be His witnesses. 

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, The Young Women General President, swapped a scripture that I really loved. Many of us have heard the scripture, 'Of whom much is given, much is required.' Sister Oscarson swapped it and said, 'Of whom much is required, much is given.' The blessings that come from being a disciple of Christ are innumerable! May we always remember to serve the Savior with every fiber of our beings and He blesses us with the extra strength to continue! 

Thanks for readin! 

Love, Sister Petersen