Scripture: Romans 1:16-17                                          Key Verse: Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for

salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Mary McLeod Bethune understood that she was beautifully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-18). She knew that her black skin color was viewed negatively in most of the United States, but, as a result of her many encounters with God, she learned as a very little girl that she need not be ashamed of her color. In short, she knew deep down inside that she had worth and value, and it began with God. On a gospel mission in the Dakotas, Mary stayed overnight with a minister and his wife. The couple had a five year old daughter who had never seen a black person. She became fond of Mary right away.

When dinner was ready, the little girl cried out: “Tell the lady to wash her face and hands. She’s all dirty.” The mother was mortified and apologized for the child’s words. Mary smiled and lifted the little girl into her lap. She allowed the girl to touch her face. She told her to rub it, so she could see that the color would not rub off. Then, Mary pointed out that God made skin color like the many different flowers that were in a vase in the room. The mother was moved to tears, and she said, “Miss McLeod, if you came out here to do nothing else but give my child a lesson, your journey has warranted your coming.”

Paul too, understood that the gift of God’s worth and value included all of him, his whole being. He used the term shame to talk about the valuing system of culture that often despised people because they were not part of the so-called in-group and were disparaged because of race, gender, or class. Those who were culturally despised were attracted to Christianity, and Paul welcomed them. For him, to be ashamed of the Gospel would mean that he had to be ashamed of himself.

Prayer:

Thank you, God, for affirming all of us as we are, as persons of worth.