Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
What's the last thing that you recommended to someone? It could be a restaurant, a product, a movie. What's the last thing that you recommended? You know, before you recommended it to someone, I don't think you probably paused and said, "Okay, before I tell this person about this restaurant that I just ate at and thought it was the best ever, are they a Christian or aren't they? To be safe, whether I can share it with them or not."
You may think I'm crazy for even suggesting the thought that we would make that determination based on whether they're a Christian or not, to share a restaurant that you love. But why is that? You know, because the best things in our life, we just share naturally with other people.
The Natural Response of Faith
And I would love to use this lens as we consider the Verse of the Day today in the words of Jesus, Matthew chapter 10, verse 32. Again, looking at that statement, the best things in our life we naturally talk about. But so many times when it comes to talking about Jesus and speaking publicly about Jesus to those around us, we use that filter, don't we? "Are they a Christian? If they're not a Christian, what are they going to think about me?" But it's a natural thing to share with people the best things in our life.
And so that's why when Jesus is saying this, it's an acknowledgment of actually everything. It is about the gospel. And actually our faith. Why? Notice what Jesus said: "All those who acknowledge me publicly here on earth, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven." Well, once we're in heaven, we're going to see - we're going to see it all. There is no faith. There is no need for faith. But while we're here on earth, we place our faith and trust in Jesus as our Savior.
Taste and See
And so because of that, it's not something that we talk about because it's something that happened a long time ago. Just like we talk about the restaurant we just got done eating at, we literally can talk about the taste we can still savor in our mouth because, "Oh my goodness, it was so good. You've got to go try this." Imagine if we echoed the Psalmist in King David when he said, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good."
If you're struggling with acknowledging Jesus publicly to those around you, you're not alone. We all struggle with that. It's a natural thing to think about. "What are they going to think about if I share this? Am I going to get ridiculed? What are their thoughts going to be about me?"
Be Authentic
But I just want to encourage you. Peel back the veil of it. Be authentic. If you truly believe, just like you did about this restaurant that you went to, that you're experiencing a living, breathing Savior and you can experience Him today, and if you do so and allow Him to be the greatest thing in your life today - what in the world? We can't help but talk about the best thing in our life.
And so it's in our ability to share our faith because we're acknowledging Him here on earth. Him acknowledging us publicly before God in heaven is the side note, actually, because that's a natural response, because it's based on our faith, which is the gospel - demonstrating our faith by talking about our Savior. That's the greatest thing in our life today.
I would just encourage you to take some time and reflect on how amazing He is in your life. If you're struggling to find that, spend some time with Him. I know He's going to show up. And may it be something special that you can turn around and you can't help but share with other people. "Oh, taste and see this sweet Savior that I know." And may you do that today.
