Luke 12:4–5, 8–9, 11, 51–52 (NIV) “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.
“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,
Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.”
Every man feels pressure to conform.
Pressure from culture.
Pressure from family.
Pressure from religious expectations.
Pressure from the desire to protect your reputation, income, stability, and relationships.
Jesus cuts straight through all of that and says:
“Fear God—not people.”
People can take your job, reputation, friendships, and even your life…
but they cannot touch your eternity.
Only God decides that.
And Jesus makes the dividing line unmistakably clear:
You either stand with Him publicly, or you stand against Him eternally.
Religion builds comfortable groups.
Shared customs.
Shared culture.
Shared identity.
But Jesus didn’t come to launch another religious tribe.
He came to restore relationship with the Father—
a relationship defined by obedience, worship, and service flowing from love.
This always threatens religious systems.
It always disrupts family traditions.
It always divides those who love God from those who love comfort, control, and cultural identity.
That’s why Jesus says the battle will be in the synagogue and in the living room.
Religious leaders, family members, even lifelong friends—
many will resist the truth because following Jesus means abandoning everything they trust more than God.
Men crave belonging.
We fear conflict.
We fear losing the approval of the people we depend on.
We fear what we might lose—money, career, or even our safety—if we stand with Jesus openly and without apology.
But silence is not neutral.
Jesus says silence is denial.
And denial has eternal consequences.
Every Christian man is called to represent Jesus publicly—
in speech, in conduct, in leadership, in integrity, and in courage.
We announce with our lives:
“God has come to restore us to Himself through Jesus Christ.”
The world may hate this.
Family may resist it.
Religious people may slander you.
Some may try to break you.
But Jesus promises that He Himself will stand before the angels of God and acknowledge every man who acknowledges Him on earth.
Nothing you lose for Christ compares to what you gain in Christ.
RUN TODAY’S PLAY: Identify one place where fear has made you silent about Jesus.
Is it at work?
At home?
With extended family?
Among friends?
Online?
In your own habits or compromises?
Then obey Jesus’ words today:
“Do not be afraid.”
“Publicly acknowledge Me.”
“Fear God, not man.”
Take one bold step of allegiance—
a word spoken, a prayer offered, a truth declared, a sin confessed, a witness shared.
Better to stand alone with Jesus today
than stand without Him forever.
