“But everyone who denies Me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:33 [NLT])
After Jesus called and appointed His disciples, He explained
to them that the world, even their families, would be against them. He said
this would occur because people mocked Him, their Teacher, and would persecute
and kill Him. What a way to begin an appointment service; “You will go out and you
will be hurt.” How many of us would choose to accept an appointment for a job
when the officiant says these words? Jesus spent verses 11-39 telling the
disciples who their antagonists would be. He probably surprised them when He
said even their own families would be against them.
Stated amid these warnings during their appointment, Jesus
arrived at His “or else” statement. Verse thirty-three says, “But everyone who
denies Me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” [NLT] So
often when we read the word “deny”, we think of it as an overt action. Denial
in our minds means blatantly to state with our mouths we are not followers of
someone. Peter blatantly and overtly denied three times that he was a follower
of Jesus after Jesus’ arrest in Matthew 26:33-35.
Each of us understands this meaning for denying something.
Yet, there is another way to deny Jesus. A person can choose not to preach,
teach, or say what God told him or her to say or do. This denial is covert.
Only God and the person are aware of this denial. Maybe God told you to speak
to the woman who just experienced the death of a child. Possibly, He told you
to substitute teach a Sunday School class. Perhaps God told you to tell the
cashier at the store about Jesus, but you kept your mouth closed when you were
in the store. This covert denial shows you do not recognize God as Lord of your
life. It shows you do not love the Lord more than yourself.
The inaction of covert denial, when God told you to say or do
something, is denying God and is rebellion against Him just as much as overt denial.
Any rebellion against God is sin. So often we think if no one else knows, then
that thing we did or didn’t do isn’t sin because God doesn’t know either,
right? In reality, God is everywhere present at the same time. We cannot hide ourselves,
thoughts, actions, inactions, or words from Him.
Between you and God right now, admit to yourself you have
sinned against Him by covertly not saying or doing what He told you to say or
do. Admit this to God and genuinely repent of this denial, this sin, against Him.
Ask Him to forgive you and to strengthen you in your faith and in your love for
Him. Thank Him for His love, patience, and forgiveness and ask Him to grow you
so you love Him perfectly.
“Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” (John 14:21 [NLT])
“If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.” (John 15:10 [NLT])
Either God is LORD of
your life, or you are.
Denying
God shows you love yourself more than you love God.
“Jesus told His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.’” (Matthew 16:24 [ESV])
Who is Lord of your life?
