As You Tell the Story

Daily Reading: Matthew 10

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, butwhoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10.32-33)

Devotional Thought: My friend, Matt, was golfing with his ten-year-old son at the local course.  As Matt tells the story, he got a hole in one!   He only had one witness, and he was just ten years old.  So, when they got to the clubhouse, the pro asked the young fella: “Did your daddy really hit a hole in one?”  He denied it!  At that moment, I think his daddy wanted to deny that he knew him!

In today’s culture, it has become increasingly unpopular to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  Christians are the targets of science and society, pundits and politicians.  We are accused of being mean-spirited, narrow-minded, and anti-progress.  In such a climate, it would be easy to want to hide our faith in order to avoid ridicule.

But whom should we seek to please?  Man, whose influence and power concludes at the end of this life?  Or, God, who will be the final Judge of our eternal destiny?  Jesus is the only arbiter between us and God.  If we are denied by him, there is no other option.

In the decades following the resurrection and ascension of Christ, it was common practice for Roman citizens to proclaim, “Caesar is Lord!”  Christians refused to do so, instead insisting, “Jesus is Lord!”  They paid a heavy price for that acknowledgment; many being martyred for their faith.  This price is still being exacted upon Christians today around the world. 

How are you telling the story?  Do you acknowledge that Jesus is Lord?

Prayer: In my heart, Jesus, I acknowledge you as my Savior and Lord.  Grant me the wisdom, courage, and opportunity to acknowledge you before others.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 89.27-39

27 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. 28 My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him. 29 I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens. 30 If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules, 31 if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, 32 then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes, 33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. 34 I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips. 35 Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David. 36 His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me. 37 Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies. ”Selah. 38 But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed. 39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust.