Anticipation vs. Being Ashamed

Sunday night while I was attending a halloween party as an 80's physical educator, I was anticipating the time I was going to have to speak about Jesus, my Lord and Savior.  Are you anticipating bringing up Jesus in your conversations, or are you ashamed when others do?  This question is one that brings conviction to a majority of Christians and one that needs to be confronted.  Jesus is so in love with you (Jeremiah 31:3b "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.") and as you allow Him to love you more and more, it will be a great joy and blessing to speak of Him to many people, even the stranger! (Deuteronomy 10:19a "Therefore love the stranger")  Sometimes there is a temptation to not speak of Him nor say Hallelujah in a room of "strangers".  Often though, there is someone who is in desperate need of the hope you have within you (2 Corinthians 13:5-6 "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. ⁶ But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.").  More likely than not, one person will draw near to you as you speak of Jesus and will want to learn more.  This was the case with a number of people last night turned their ears to listen to me explain somethings about the character of the Lord to a new friend Jesus allowed me to meet.  He once was a stranger, but now he is a friend.  Once Jesus was a stranger to me and you, but now He is my life!  What is He to you? 

Luke 9:26
For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

Luke 9:23
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:24
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 

Luke 9:25 
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?