Jesus tells his disciples that they will be "acknowledged" before the Father if they "acknowledge" Jesus. He then goes on to explain what all this acknowledging entails. I find it interesting that he didn't say, "Just pray, and ask me to come into your heart." The type of "acknowledgement" Jesus has in mind is a little different. He explains this means nothing else competes for primacy, or first place, in your life - not your mom, dad, friend, brother, sister or even your child. As a matter of fact, if you don't lay your own life down (die to yourself), you're not worthy of following Jesus. Acknowledging Jesus means you forsake everything for him.
Sometimes this is where we leave the explanation and we make it sound like following Jesus must be a real drag. Don't miss the last section. No one is to love anything more than Jesus. He should be an all consuming passion in our lives. In fact, the only real life to be had is found in Him.
Matthew 10:32-39
32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law
36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'[e]
37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Questions
1. What do you like in this passage?
2. What is difficult about this passage?
3. What did you learn about God?
4. What is He leading you to do?
5. What part will you take with you and think about today?
Want to read more? Click here for the rest of the chapter.
1 comment:
when i was reading this...
it reminded me of an incident that happened today...
a girl said that she didnt go to church...
she said that she didnt believe...
and..
when i read...
33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
...
it made me think of that...
and it makes me sad to think of it in that way...
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