Decisions

 Greetings to you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

       Sometimes, making a decision is difficult.  It is difficult especially if it involves something big like having an operation, undergoing some treatment, going to college, getting married and so on.  Decisions are often difficult but once you make the decision, you are usually ready to begin.  Paul was a man who had made a decision.  It changed the direction of his life.  In the first chapter of the Book of Romans, Paul makes three statements all of them beginning with the words, "I am..."  Romans 1:14-17 says, "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."  As you can see, Paul said "I am debtor...I am ready...I am not ashamed."  Those are good words for us today.  Paul felt that he was a debtor to those who were without Christ.  Since he had received the good news, he felt obligated to tell it to others.  Then, he said that he was ready.  He was ready to preach the gospel to those who were in Rome.  The decision had been made and now he was ready to begin.  Then, finally, he says, that he was not ashamed.  Paul was not ashamed of the gospel message.  In fact, it was the best news ever to be spread abroad.  When you have the task of announcing that which is the best, you don't want to hold back.  You want to tell it to others.  The same thing is just as true today as it was in the days of Paul.  We are not in an exclusive organization but rather we need, in fact, we also are debtors, to tell others about Christ.  Then, once we have come to grips with that truth, we need to finally say that we are ready to begin.  As we end out this year and head for another one, let us be reminded that we should not be ashamed of the gospel message but go boldly forth telling others the good news.  Someone told you about Christ in one way or another.  So, pass it on.