Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Are you easily embarrassed? Do you feel shame, or wonder what people are thinking about you? Man, I can remember, especially in high school, I was so insecure. People would even joke to me about my name. They'd call me names and I would just be so insecure about things. We are naturally embarrassed about things. We naturally have a fear of men, especially when it comes to our faith, because our faith is very, very personal to us. Our Verse of the Day addresses some very important things in our life.
It comes from Matthew chapter 10, verse 32. "'Everyone who acknowledges Me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before My Father in Heaven.'"
Jesus Is King
The theme of Matthew is Jesus is King. Jesus is the King of kings, and He's bringing His kingdom here on earth. He is basically bringing His people with Him as well, and those who repent. As we look at this tremendous passage, chapters 1 to 11 are really the offer of King Jesus. Then chapters 11 to 28 are the rejection of Jesus. Just before this section and the rejection of Jesus, He's letting these people know what's going to happen. Essentially, He knew difficulty was coming. It's like He's saying, I need you to know what's in this verse.
Two Reasons to Acknowledge Jesus Publicly
Before us, as we look at Matthew chapter 10, verse 32, Jesus gives two reasons to acknowledge Him publicly—and quite frankly, don't be a secret agent Christian. Number one, let's call it public profession. "Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth." Did you see that kind of come through as you look at the verse? I mean, "Everybody who acknowledges me publicly here on earth," it's like Jesus knew exactly where it was. He knew where the people were at, and He just wants to say, "Look, those who are going to publicly acknowledge Me here on earth, I'm going to do something for them." This is the public profession.
Even as we come to Christ, the verse in Romans chapter 10, verse 9, a well-known verse coming to Christ: "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved." There's an element of public profession, even right out of the gate when we become saved.
The second reason to acknowledge Jesus publicly is divine recognition. He says right there in the next part of the verse, "I will also acknowledge you before My Father in heaven." Luke chapter 12, verse 8 says, "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges Me before man"—kind of a sister passage—"the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God." This is an amazing scene. There's an audience in heaven, loved ones, whom you and I are to live for.
How to Apply This Passage
What do we do with this passage? How do we apply this? Let's get down to the brass tacks. Number one: fear God. Fear God. Have this reverential awe and love for your Father and fear Him, because the fear of God drives out other fears.
Number two: know God's precise care over your life. There's a great verse in verse 29, even in the same similar context: "And are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father." Knowing this—and some theologians say not one sparrow will fall to the ground. Some theologians say that's the little hops, the little hops that a sparrow does. Each one of those little hops, God, your Father knows about, to show the absolute precise care over your life and mine. And of course, He says further, "Even the hairs of your head are numbered," so God knows you and He knows me.
Thirdly, know God's massive forgiveness. Catch this: of the times when you and I have been silent about Jesus, the times when you should have shared, I should have shared. I should have said something. The door was wide open. I had a chance to acknowledge God. I had a chance to share Jesus, and I shut my mouth. For those of us who were born again, Jesus Christ's blood covers even those times. What amazing grace!
Because of that amazing grace, we should confess our sin, and then just go tell everybody how great Jesus is. Tell everybody how great He is, because you have traded earthly approval for the fact that you want to have not the temporary applause of this world, but you want to have the forever praise of Jesus Christ, because He will hopefully say, "Well done, good and faithful servant," to you and to me, because you've been a good and faithful witness and publicly professed the name of Jesus.
