11/10/2019
Do we find ourselves hiding the fact that we are Christians? Do we think that praying in secret is the same thing as silently maintaining our faith in Jesus? Do we feel it is the same belief... albeit unknown to others? well it is not. if we Acknowledge Christ to those around us, He will admit to His Father that we are wonderfully His, but if we do not speak openly of our faith in Jesus then He will not know us.
“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 10:32-33 ESV
Long ago I was in conversation with a group of college friends, and the subject of faith arose. As they began to speak of how Christians thought they were so much better than those around them, they called Christians ”Holier than thou”, and that they thought of themselves as being better than the rest of the world. i knew this to be untrue, but rather than acknowledging Christ, And speaking of how He had changed my life, I chose to remain silent. Have you ever been confronted in this way, and remained mute? Have you thus denied Jesus... even as Peter did?
“And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know the man."”
Matthew 26:71-72 ESV
Disavowing our faith by either speech, or in silence is not harmless, it denies the love of God, and who Jesus is... and we see this evidenced in the reaction of Peter when he realizes what he has done:
“And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.”
Matthew 26:75 ESV
Jesus instructs us to acknowledge Him, or He will deny us, so how foolish are we to disobey Him? What are the consequences? Do we think that Jesus will simply remain quiet regarding who we are, or, as we have done, will He verbally deny us?
“And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”
Matthew 7:23 ESV
Our silence will presents us as foolish indeed...
“And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”
Matthew 7:26 ESV
How can we possibly follow the great commission and bring souls to the Lord if we hide our faith in Him from the world, and what will we say when He rebukes us for our disobedience?
“Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
Mark 16:14-15 ESV
how can we proclaim the gospel Of Jesus to the world if our faith is not strong enough to speak to a small group of friends? are we willing to risk that Jesus would deny us Before God because of our fear that someone in the world might look down on us? Let’s look at who we truly are, and determine if we are courageous enough to acknowledge Jesus.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for allowing me an audience to whom I can witness of you, and your Son Jesus. I thank you for instructing me to go into the world, and to proclaim the gospel, so that many souls will come to you. I pray that I will bravely acknowledge Jesus, and that He will speak well to you of me. Open my mouth Holy Father, and give me the Words that will lift you up before all men. never let your Word remain silent on my lips. Hoy, Holy, Holy are you my God who walks with me into distant lands so that I can Boldly, and without fear, educate all men regarding your love, goodness, mercy, and grace. help me to be strong in your arms so that I can courageously Teach of your Son Jesus, and the sacrifice He made to redeem us. Great are you my God, and praised be Jesus who speaks Before you of us who have acknowledge Him. Glorious are you, and may all glory be yours now, and forevermore. your grace Flows forth, and in so doing, all men say Amen!
Rich Forbes