My Bible is full of verses that I’ve highlighted or underlined because those portions had something specific to say to me as I’ve read them. Some chapters have become a mish-mash of colours over the years as more and more bits have been highlighted. Matthew 10 has just 2 verses highlighted but they are completely shaded in red. I think they’re amongst the most terrifying verses I’ve ever read,
32“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”
The very idea that Jesus might at some point stand before Almighty God and say, “I’m sorry Father but I don’t know this person” is utterly terrifying to me. That He might see the times when I’ve been too ashamed to admit that I know Him and report them back to God in Heaven is huge. Especially when we consider the long-term ramifications of a report like that – it’s too much too bear.
The difficulty is that it’s all too easy to focus on the negative aspects of His words rather than the positive. 32“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. Now I don’t know how you feel about that those words but I’m comfortable with them. I like the idea that Jesus might stand before God Almighty some day and say, “Father this person is my friend, he/she told others about me and I’d like him/her to receive Your blessing.” I’m very comfortable with that. I will, therefore do my utmost not to deny Jesus as my Lord and my Saviour but to declare that he absolutely is. Will you do the same?
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Questions:
What do you find most terrifying about living a life of faith? Is it acknowledging Jesus before your peers? Is it something else? How will you overcome these barriers?
Action:
Do something for God that’s out of your comfort zone today. Then do it again tomorrow.
Prayer:
Lord God, bless us with strength to stand up and live for you that others might see Your Spirit in us and know that You alone are God. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.