Scripture

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on Earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”

Observation

Jesus warns that those who acknowledge him here on earth, he will acknowledge before his Father in heaven, but those who deny Him, he will also deny.

Jesus did not come to bring peace to the earth but conflict. Families are divided and a person’s enemy will be found in their own household.

We must love Jesus more than we love our own family.

Those who receive the disciples receive the Father. Those who receive a prophet will receive the reward of the prophet. Anyone who offers even a cup of water to a follower of Jesus will receive a reward from the Father.

Application

This section is all about loving Jesus above all things – family, friends, life itself.

All followers of Jesus must declare their faith publicly. Often this is done at baptism, but we need to be open about our faith in our daily life.

If we try to leave as “secret agents” in God’s Kingdom, then Christ will not acknowledge us as his followers on the Day of Judgement.

We are all made differently, with different gifts. Some of us are called to be preachers, others Hollywood celebrities, still others to be quiet workers in the community or at home. We all need to make sure that, regardless of our calling and personality, the people we influence know that we love the Lord.

Prayer

Lord, these words are confronting. Please help me to be public with my faith, and advocate for you in a world that is opposed to you. Amen.

Scripture

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Observation

Families will be split apart by the preaching of the gospel. We will be hated by all people because of Christ. But those who stand firm to the end will be saved.

The head of the house is called Beelzebub, so how much more will the followers face opposition?

We must not be afraid of people, who can kill the body but not the soul. Rather, we must be afraid of the Father, who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

Application

Jesus was persecuted by religious leaders, and so we too should expect opposition at the hands of people.

Christians are the most persecuted people in the world. We have a false sense of what life is like because the church in the West has been a dominant part of culture for many centuries. Yet, for people in parts of Asia and Africa, becoming a Christian means to sign up for imprisonment, alienation from family, torture, or death.

When people oppose us because of our faith, we must stand firm. The most they can do is destroy our body. But if we break under the pressure and deny Christ, then we may face eternity in hell separated from Him.

So we must stand firm and endure to the end, even when following Jesus seems to make life difficult.

Prayer

Lord, please help my brothers and sisters for whom living for you brings severe persecution. Please help them to remain steadfast in their faith. Amen.