Jesus Doesn't Want Us to Deny Him Before Men, but Is It Only With Our Words?

Jesus Doesn't Want Us to Deny Him Before Men, but Is It Only With Our Words?

Jesus says: Whoseoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, Him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33

I've always heard that Actions Speak Louder Than Words. Well, I think from everything I've read in the Bible that Jesus feels the same way. I don't think He just wants us to admit that He is our Savior when we are in the confines of our church with a safe group of people to talk to about this topic. 

Jesus wants us to be able to not sheepishly look down at our feet when someone we are standing with is putting down someone who has a faith in Jesus or is saying that their non-Christian faith is right. Do we really stand up for Jesus and our faith in Him like He stood up for us when He gave His life to save us from our sins? I'm afraid that most of us, including me, have difficulty sharing our faith publicly, especially when it is difficult to do so. 

I don't want Jesus to turn His back on me the way I've done to Him when things are awkward. All I can do is be prayerful that Jesus makes me a better Christian more willing to share my faith with others, especially when it's difficult to do so!

So, It's Easy to Look Down on Those Who Have Made Poor Life Style Choices, but How Does Jesus Feel About This?

So, It's Easy to Look Down on Those Who Have Made Poor Life Style Choices, but How Does Jesus Feel About This?

Jesus says: Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2

Knowing this, it causes me to re-evaluate my behavior and being judgmental of others. I would hate for Jesus to judge me as harshly as I've judged those who look like they knowingly make life style choices that are counterproductive to their well-being and those who care for them.

I've also made poor life style choices, we all have, although we don't all end up on Skid Row. Jesus doesn't distinguish between the person who lives on Skid Row or us. He doesn't say I provide salvation for those who show some restraint and don't allow their poor life style choices to end them up living in a tent town. In fact, Jesus may forgive the person living on Skid Row who really truly believes in Him as their Savior than us, if we let our faith in Him wane, because we get too caught up in being self-righteous. We need to be prayerful and let Jesus guide us as we re-evaluate our actions!

So you give regularly at church, but would you give up your smart phone,i phone or ipad for Jesus?

So you give regularly at church, but would you give up your smart phone,i phone or  ipad for Jesus?

The young man saith unto Him [Jesus], All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow ME.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.  Then said Jesus unto His disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. and again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:20-24

When we have possessions that become come too important to us, they become more than just a bad habit. They aren't called possession for nothing, because items that become too important start to possess your soul. You may be spending more time with these things than you are praying to your Savior. Is it really worth it??????

If you tell others about the good things you do on Jesus' behalf, does He like it?

If you tell others about the good things you do on Jesus' behalf, does He like it?

Jesus says through these passages: Take heed that ye do not your alms [charitable deeds] before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your father which is in heaven. Matthew 6:1

What does Jesus want us to do instead? Jesus goes on to say: Therefore when thou doest thine alms [charitable deeds] do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. but when thou doest alms [charitable deeds], let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms amy be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6: 2-4

How does Jesus feel about us who look down on those who have committed crimes and feel they should lock them up and throw away the key or feel that they deserve to be shot to death when stopped by the police?

How does Jesus feel about us who look down on those who have committed crimes and feel they should lock them up and throw away the key or feel that they deserve to be shot to death when stopped by the police?

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.  Ecclesiastes 7:20. 

So, if Jesus knows we are all sinners, but was willing to give His life for us to save us from our many sins, wouldn't you think He would want us to be more tolerant and forgiving of others? How can we as a society think that someone who stole $20 or $2,000 should spend the rest of their lives in jail, without giving them a chance to be rehabilitated? There are many penal facilities who have cut out almost all programs for prisoners to get further education, learn a trade, or take college classes even when relatives of the prisoner pays for it? They are setting these people up to end back in the penal system, because they will not have learned a better way to support themselves.

Now, I do understand locking up serial killers, rapists, and pedophiles, because their being returned to the public, puts the public at continued risk. Perpetrators who commit these crimes are rarely ever able to be rehabilitated, although many of them talk the good talk, but get out and continue to harm people again.

What about all the many, many times we see on the News that another person, especially minorities, have been killed by a policeman when stopped or questioned? Of course, I can't speak to whether the situation warranted further action, but what happened to officers shooting people in the leg, rather than killing them? I figure not too many people can out run an officer when they have a gunshot in the leg, but they do have a chance to turn their lives around when they get the necessary help. 

Additionally, what about all those who hear about another minority being shot to death when confronted by an officer and they feel self-righteous, making comments like, "Yeah, they deserved it!" After reading the Bible from cover to cover many times, I don't feel that Jesus wants us to have such smug, judgmental feelings toward others. We can't judge others. How do we know they didn't just panic when stopped? After seeing all the police shootings on the News, it could easily happen. Regardless, even if these stopped people did deserve further action, we need to look deeply into our hearts to see if we are jumping on the, "Yeah, they deserved it!" bandwagon with all the others who applaud the killing of questioned minorities.   Be prayerful about all of this and let Jesus, not hate be your guide.