Jesus makes it very clear that witnessing is not optional. It is a requirement for His followers. He shows the great importance of witnessing with the strongest of statements.
“Everyone, therefore, who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven, but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10.32-33).
There are some places in the world where acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Savior means potential arrest and even death. Jesus acknowledges that fact, and He encourages us at whatever level of opposition we may face to always stand for Him.
The kind of opposition that most Americans face is exclusion from certain groups or occasional disparaging words.
One day, I was lifting weights in an old-school gym. My friend called me “preacher.” Another man heard this and said with sarcasm dripping from his voice, “Oh we have a preacher here. Are you going to save me?”
I gave him my friendliest response while acknowledging the role of Jesus in my life.
I few years later I met this opponent at another gym. He stopped me because that day he needed a preacher. He and his girlfriend had broken up and he needed to talk.
We never know what will take place when we identify with Jesus amid opposition. What we do know is that Jesus wants us to speak up for him whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Friends – Family – Self
The following passage may seem extreme concerning family members, until we read to the end and realize that Jesus is telling us that He must be preeminent, even over our self-centered interests.
Let’s examine the entire passage and then consider it piece by piece.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.
“For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,
and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me,
“And whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
“Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10.34-39).
Anyone who has been around the church for any length of time knows that conflict is a part of the experience. Sometimes we have conflict with family members or members of our church family.
Jesus warns us that this is a part of the life of a Christian and will give instructions on how to handle it in Matthew 18.
There are some places in the world where conflict comes from outside sources. Where other religions dominate the public space can be very antagonistic to Christians. Some governments oppose Christianity because of the freedom that life with Christ brings.
I believe the largest area of conflict arises when Jesus calls upon us to deny ourselves. The struggle to always be right, have our way, and control our lives can make surrendering to Jesus incredibly challenging, almost like an internal battle within our own minds.
Jesus’ teaching, as recorded in this chapter by Matthew, challenges us to make Jesus the most important person in our lives.
When we acknowledge that Jesus is the King and live as citizens of His Kingdom, surrendering our lives to Him, we will discover His peace. Additionally, we will become effective witnesses to the world.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 