HIS WORDS

“Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33

 

Keeping Faithful

HIS EXAMPLE TO US

Jesus says these words when He is instructing the disciples when sending them out to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. They were to go out and do what they have seen Him do—to preach the kingdom of heaven, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. They were sent out in the midst of wolves to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Wow! A high calling. The Father’s will was to seek the lost, to heal and cleanse; Jesus always did the Father’s will—confessed the Father before men.

Jesus never wavered in speaking the truth and sharing the Father’s heart. The religious leaders had expected a Messiah they had made up in their own minds. They had missed the verses in Isaiah 53 and 61, and so many other prophecies. Coming to seek and save those who were lost was entirely different from their self-made agenda. He continued to stand up for the truth and speak the truth, because He was the truth (John 14:6). Yet as many as heard and received, He gave the right to become children of God to those who believe in His Name.

MY STORY

I had started out strong. Out of the gates, full of faith and excitement, yet with time I became quieter and less purposed to glorify God. My heart desires to glorify Him, yet I am easily distracted, or the fire is put out because of people’s reaction. Then the conviction comes: complacency is denying the Father. Ouch. I need to confess and seek Him again with all my heart, not allowing the enemy or my own flesh to rip me off. I need to continue to confess Him before men. In this I am refreshed, and the fire of the Holy Spirit can keep burning in me one day at a time.

My question daily is, then, how do I confess You, Lord? When I’m obedient and focused on Him, His answer comes in living out His character in how I treat others and sharing whenever given opportunity. Open my mouth, and love by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it’s just speaking the truth that may oppose someone’s behavior. But it’s in His grace and perfect love, and the outcome is salvation and His glory!

MY PRAYER

“Dear Lord, help us to live for You daily, confessing You before men because our desire is You, and we love the fact that You confess us before the Father in heaven! God, empower us today to share Your love with a needy world (and with our loved ones and friends). In Jesus beautiful Name, Amen.”