I Am Not Ashamed — Blessed to Be Able to Share

The fourth evening in France. Jarnac-Champagne. And tonight — Le is living Romans 1:14-16 on the same day she reads it.

Paul says: I am a debtor. I am ready. I am not ashamed. And Le — on the same day — writes notes with a friend, shares the gospel, and testifies: I am so blessed to be able to share.

She lets me share. Not forced. Not preached at. She lets me. A door ajar. A heart open. And Le walks through gently. The power of God doesn't need a battering ram. It needs an open door and a willing heart on both sides.

I am so blessed to be ABLE to share — Le sees it as a privilege, not an achievement. Grace AND apostleship — received together. The blessing is in the sending.

This is the pattern from 1 Timothy 1:16 — mercy displayed for those who are going to believe. Le is the pattern. Le is the living entry. Not ashamed. Sharing the power. Paying the debt of grace.

Paul does not say: I am generous. He says: I am a debtor. Je me dois. Opheiletēs — one who owes. Grace received creates a debt of grace owed.

Greeks and Barbarians. Wise and unwise. Aux savants et aux ignorants. No distinction. No target audience. Everyone. Le's friend — an unbeliever — is among those to whom the debt is owed. And Le is paying it. Gently. Through notes. Through presence.

"As much as is in me — I am ready." Un vif désir. Prothumon — eager, forward-leaning. Not reluctant. Ready. Le is ready to share with her friend — not intimidated by unbelief. The readiness is confidence in the gospel, not in self.

And "also" — to Rome also. The gospel that went to Caldas and the olive trees — goes to Jarnac-Champagne also. Goes to Le's friend also.

The thesis of Romans. Everything in the next fifteen chapters unpacks these words:

"I am not ashamed." Je n'ai point honte. The gospel IS shameful by the world's standards. A crucified carpenter is the Son of God? Foolishness to the Greeks. A stumbling block to the Jews. And Paul says: I am not ashamed. Le's journal — public, readable — is not ashamed. Le sharing with her friend — is not ashamed.

"It is the power of God unto salvation." Une puissance de Dieu pour le salut. Not a philosophy. Not a suggestion. POWER. Dynamis theou — the dynamite of God. The gospel doesn't describe salvation. It IS the power that accomplishes it.

Le testified: not what He can do — who He is. Paul says: the gospel IS God's power. When Le shares with her friend — she is not sharing an opinion. She is delivering dynamite. Gently. Through notes. Through love. Through a door left ajar. But the power is real.

"To every one that believeth." De quiconque croit. Every single one. No exceptions. Not "to everyone who graduated." To everyone who believes. Le's friend — not yet believing — is hearing the gospel from a sinner who didn't graduate but was mercied. The promise stands: to everyone who believes. The door is open.