Unashamed

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Friday morning, the 5th of December, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in the Gospel of Matthew 10:27. Jesus says:

“…preach on the housetops.”

Then we go to Romans 1:16. It says:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

There is power when we are not ashamed. I will never forget that on the 18th of February, 1979, in the little Methodist Church on the Main Street of Greytown, Jill, my wife, myself, and our children went to church that Sunday because I was desperate and didn’t know what to do anymore. There were a group of laymen there. The minister wasn’t preaching that day. They were builders, farmers, electricians, and sportsmen. They were just ordinary working folk. They were just getting up, one after the other and sharing their testimonies, and telling people what Jesus Christ meant to them. I was absolutely amazed because they were weeping, and I hadn’t seen people weep from the pulpit before. Then the altar call was made and we went forward and we gave our lives to Christ. 

When we went home, we were sitting in the garden and a car drove in and a man got out of that car and he walked up and he said, ”I was in the church service this morning and I saw you go forward and give your life to Christ. Did you mean it?” And of course, there was still a bit of the old man there, I said, “Of course I did. Do you think I would do it if I didn’t mean it?” He said, “Well then, I want to challenge you. The first three people you meet tomorrow morning, tell them what you did today.” After a cup of tea, he left us. The next morning, I was on my way to a cattle sale in my pick-up, and I went to pick up my neighbour next door. He was a dairy farmer and as we were driving down the road, I will never forget it, this was the first time in my life that I had the opportunity of not being ashamed of the Gospel. I said, “Ian, I want to tell you something.” He said, “Ja, what?” I said, “Yesterday I gave my life to Jesus Christ.” 

Well, his face went pale and he looked across and he said, “Angus, I am so pleased for you.” I said, “But what about you, Ian?” He said, “No, no, that is not for me.” But I want to tell you, about a couple of years went by and on a Saturday morning, I was sitting in my farm office doing my accounts when the phone rang. I picked the phone up and it was Ian on the phone. He said, “Angus, I need you and I need you now.” I said, “I am on my way.” I got in my pick-up and I drove straight across to his farm. I walked into his house. His wife was sitting there and his three beautiful daughters, and he said, “Angus, I need Jesus.” 

Well, we knelt together on the carpet in his sitting room and Ian gave his life to Christ. He has since gone to be with the Lord Jesus Christ, and I have never stopped since that day telling people about Jesus Christ. Today, stand up, be bold and be counted.

God bless you and goodbye.