Matthew 10:32-42  Jesus prepared the twelve disciple to go to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel".. and not only them.. but every disciple that He sends out to the "distressed and downtrodden".  He has given us a message. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."  He has given us the resources needed.  He has given us wisdom.. so that we might be as "shrewd as serpents, and as innocent as doves".  He has warned us of the wolves and of the trials ahead.  He has promised His Spirit to give us the words to speak.  And He has given us the courage.. so that we "do not fear"..  for we are in God's hands.. truth will be revealed and we will be with Him forever. 

But, Jesus is not finished with His instructions.. "Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven."   Our confession of Christ is absolutely vital.  It is acknowledging Christ as Lord.. it is professing our allegiance to Him... it is making a covenant promise that has eternal value.  We either confess Christ or we "deny" Him.  ".. whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."  To "deny" means to disavow, to reject,  to refuse Him.  

There is no middle ground here.. we confess or we deny.  Jesus emphazised this reality with His next words.. "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." The quote in verse 35 is from Micah 7:6. "For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother... and a man's enemies will be there members of his household..."  There is a time and a place where we must choose.. choose to take a stand.. for Christ.  Micah acknowledged the chaos of a sin-filled nation where family relationships were so filled with enmity and hatred that there was no peace at all.  In the midst of that.. he made his confession.. "But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me." ( Micah 7:7) He took a stand.. you could say that he laid down his life, took up his cross, and followed.. 

This is what Jesus reminds His disciples as they go out.. they were choosing Him... over family.. over their own lives.. over their fears.. over the threats of persecution and suffering.  They were choosing to confess Him and not deny Him.. and even though the way would be hard..even though they were taking up their own cross to follow Him.. it was worth it..  for the reward would be great.. 

"He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophets reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward." ( v41-42) 

Father in heaven, we thank You for the truth of Your word and ask that You would open our understanding and give us the power of Christ to do it.. no matter what.  We desire to always confess Jesus.. our Lord, our Savior, our King.. We make this our pledge, our confession, our covenant.  Oh Father, we pray for those who are, even now, denying Jesus. Forgive and restore and reconcile them to Yourself, through Your grace.. which is greater than all sin.  Let the church of Christ arise and preach the kingdom of heaven.. in the Name of Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life. Amen.