The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1906, Page 28

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28

Ashamed of Jesus.

We recently read the following sad story:
A loving mother was obliged to leave her children
at home while she went for a necessary purpose
to a neighbor’s. When she returned, the house
was in flames, and she soon discovered that her

The Risen Savior Appearing to Mary Magdalene on Easter Morning.

infant child was yet within the building. She
rushed into the flames, though the people tried to
keep her back. On the bed where she had placed
it she found her little child. In a few moments it
was safe, but the mother was shockingly burned.
She suffered long and patiently, and in a few
‘months she recovered, but her burns left her ter-
vibly disfigured. ‘Twenty years afterward, when
the child had grown into a blooming young woman,

The Lutheran Pioneer.

a stranger asked her who that disfigured and de-
formed person was, and the daughter refused to
own the mother—was ashamed of her mother!

A sad story, indeed. Well may we be shocked
when we read of such base ingratitude.

But we once heard from an aged pastor a much
sadder story. He had among his catechumens a
bright Christian boy in whom he
took much delight. On Confirma-
tion Day the boy, with tears in his
confessed his faith in the
Savior, and promised faithfulness
unto death. But, alas! soon after-
ward the boy was put to work in a
factory where he was surrounded
by wicked, unbelieving men. These
ridiculed his religion, calling it
“a bloody religion,” and mocking
him for believing in one who bore
a crown of thorns and died upon
across. The boy forgot his solemn
vows, refused to own the Savior —
was ashamed of Jesus, who bore
the crown of the thorns, and shed
His blood, and died on the cross
for his salvation.

A sad story, indeed. But a
similar story every pastor can tell
when he thinks of those who on
Confirmation Day promised to re-
main faithful to their Savior, but
who later fell away and were
ashamed of Jesus. The very low-
liness and bruises and wounds
which He bore to deliver us from
death induces many to turn away
from Him and to refuse to own
Him as their Lord and King. How
sad!

Will ye also go away? Will ye
also be ashamed to confess the
Savior and His words before men?
.Ashamed of Jesus? No, no!

“Ashamed of Jesus! that dear Friend

On whom my hopes of heaven depend!
No; when I blush—be this my shame, —
That I no more revere His name.”

eyes,

Gop’s Worp. — There is no greater manifesta-
tion of the wrath of God than the disappearance of
His Word. And again, there is no greater grace
or gift of God than this that we should have His
Word to read it. — Luther.