Daily Devotion: Acknowledging Jesus

Scripture:
Matthew 10: 26-33

Main Verse:
Matthew 10: 32-33
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.

Observation:
In chapter 10 of Matthew, Jesus was talking with his twelve disciples and had instructed them to proclam that the kingdom of God has come (v. 7). He also told them that they will be persecuted, hated, and even killed for His name's sake and to be brave, and then He gave them both a promise and a warning in verses 32-33.

Jesus wants to make sure that we will never disappoint Him. Imagine, He already knows what will happen to Him on the cross, so the feeling that someone would betray Him was probably disheartening for him to even think about. Sometimes, we need reminders like this from the Lord. Sometimes, we need to hear uncomfortable words about what will happen to us if we decide to betray the Lord, as these uncomfortable words sometimes get us closer to the Lord and keep our faith.

Application:
Do your friends, family, classmates, officemates and coworkers know that you are a Christian? Do they know by your words and action that you acknowledge who Jesus is in your life? Do you live your life trying to please the Lord in everything you do, or do you sometimes let your faith take a backseat so you can be someone else? If we want the Lord to acknowledge us before our Father in heaven and if we want Jesus to claim us as His own, then we need to confess Him before others. Perhaps, you're like me who's not very good at talking, but there are so many other ways you can share Jesus to others. We don't want our loved ones and friends to suffer, do we? When the Lord comes, my hope is for people close to me to be with me in heaven, enjoying the Lord's presence till eternity. I pray that I am doing my part of telling about Jesus to others and hope that Jesus acknowledges me as His friend here on earth.

Prayer:
Lord, I'm sorry if I'm sometimes unfaithful. Please forgive me when I fail to show to others through my words and actions that I am one of your own. May I always be prepared to confess to others your great and mighty works. May your glory shine in my life so I may have an opportunity to share to others the hope of my salvation which is in You alone. AMEN.