the Third Week after Easter
Click to donate today!
Daily Devotionals
Bowen's Daily Meditations
"Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." - Matthew 10:32.
What an extraordinary world is this that such a sentence should ever have been uttered in it! Consider what is implied in these words. They manifestly imply that it is an opprobrious thing in the estimation of mankind to give honor to him who is the brightness of the Father’s glory, and to acknowledge any connection with him. They imply that it is necessary to present the most powerful motives to the mind in order to subdue the feeling of shame that would naturally arise in the confession of Christ. Is not this a fallen world? Is not the race of mankind an utterly depraved race? Were it necessary to hold up powerful motives in order to induce a person to confess his alliance with some arch-villain, one could think better of man. But the most magnificent rewards are proposed, as an inducement to those who are acquainted with Christ, to acknowledge their acquaintance; to those who rely on him for salvation, to confess him as their Saviour.
The world that pursued Christ unrelentingly, until it had driven him forth, has ever since been doing its best to make his followers silent concerning him. " Thou shalt not confess the Lord Jesus Christ," is the first and great commandment of the world, and if it can only get this obeyed it will give a dispensation from all other duties. It has tried fire and the sword abundantly; but in these latter days its tactics are more subtle. It is all courtesy, and addressing the Christian, says: - " There is a great deal that is admirable about Christianity, and I blame myself very much that I have so neglected it. Allow me to be your scholar. I will sit at your feet, and learn of you. In return I will be happy to teach you what I know. We must go hand in hand along the journey of life.’’ The Christian is charmed by this amicable proposal, and falls into the snare. The world learns something, just to lull the Church asleep; and the Church learns, alas! much of the world.
-
