Deserter or Disciple
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33
Following Jesus Christ inevitably brings God’s man to a crossroads about who you will live to please. Our King did not take great pains to, shall we say, put his guys at ease before sending them out to represent Him. But He was honest about the cost that He expected from them. There would be no 401k, no health benefits, no salary, and no company donkeys. Just repeated attempts at intimidation.
Not a lot of wiggle room there. Either you are a deserter or a disciple. There’s no room for men who wear their spiritual masks around and then side with other guys when convenient. God’s men have to kiss the middle ground good-bye. Jesus obliterated it from the radar. He had to become the middle ground. He would create all sorts of problems for His men in front of the people. Specifically, the middle ground would engender: vacillation, fluctuating spiritual commitments — hesitation, holding back in speaking the message — intimidation, bulldozing the confidence of His guys — rationalization, making it reasonable to cave in to public opinion — paralyzation, letting apprehension and panic rule their emotions about mission.
Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot kill your soul. Respect God, who can destroy both your body and your soul.
Father, thanks for teaching me that love casts out all fear….your love that you have placed in me.