32“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.33But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.35‘I have come to set a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36Your enemies will be right in your own household!’
37“If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.38If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.39If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
40“Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me.41If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs.42And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
Perhaps I should have broken this up into several studies because there is so much here, but there is also one central theme. Do I acknowledge or deny Jesus here on earth?
Look at what acknowledging Christ means in your life. Division in your own family, strife, the cross, that was all part of Jesus’ life and if you follow Him, really follow Him, it will be in yours too. Do I love Jesus enough to let that happen? Do I love Him enough to cause it? We have all heard it before, but if your life and relationships are all warmth and kindness and goodness, you probably aren’t as close to Jesus as He wants you to be.
Just the other night on “Survivor” the Christian was voted off because he was friendly to the other team. Does your kindness annoy people? If Christianity were illegal, is there enough evidence to convict us? What if the jury were people who loved you? Would they still be forced to convict you because your Christianity is undeniable?
Lord, help me to love You so much and live so close to You, that there is no denying that I am Yours. Help me to live like You, in love and peace within a world of turmoil and strife. Make me stand, stick out, and be an outcast because Your love flows out of me onto those who it annoys so in their day of need they will know Your love and be filled with it. Beginner’s Online Bible Study *obbs*
I have heard the term used “disgustingly nice.” That is what came to mind as I read this entry. If you are following Christ, you have to be willing to be lonely sometimes, because you will not always fit into a group or want to do what they are doing. You cannot make your life decisions based on what this person or that person wants…you have to base it on what God wants of YOU! Even when you are fortunate enough to be surrounded by good holy people who love you, you must be on your own terms with God and not dependent on those relationships!!
I love that term: “Disgustingly nice”! When I first read you comment without my contacts in I thought it said “Distinguishingly nice”, which I thought was pretty cool too.