““Now I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before people, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God; but the one who denies Me before people will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him. Now when they bring you before the synagogues and the officials and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”” Luke 12:8-12 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/luk.12.8-12.NASB2020
How are we doing identifying ourselves with Jesus? God says we must confess Him before people. This is not a passive act, waiting for people to ask us for the hope that is within us. This is intentional identification with Jesus. It is not having people ‘know where we stand’ as moral people, religious people, or good people. It is sharing with people the requirement of all people to become born again to enter the kingdom of God. When was the last time we said the word Jesus to someone in a way that identified ourselves as His follower? When was the last time we told His story in such a compelling manner that the person responded with repentance and faith in Jesus as God and Savior? Fear keeps us from speaking Jesus’ name to men. Fear of ridicule, fear of suffering, fear of loss of prominence. Some of these fears are legit. Jesus tells us authorities will call us in to ask about this Jesus we profess and this call to repentance. He promises to send His Spirit to help those persecuted to answer for the glory of God. Those being persecuted by men are being persecuted for speaking Jesus name. Who is hassling us for being a Christian? In the current political and economic climate if we are regular speakers of Jesus men should be offended or mocking us. Why would we speak Jesus Name anyway? Why is God promising reward to those who are faithful to identify with Him? The faithful are those who obey His command to make disciples, to live as ambassadors for Christ so that God can make His appeal unto salvation through them. The souls of men for all eternity are on the line before God and the gospel is the power of God for saving those men. This gospel must be shared, it must be spoken, so that men can hear and have faith. Who will identify with Jesus and save men for the glory of God?
