NEVER MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONFESS JESUS!
TEXT:
"... We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself." (John 9 verses 20 to 21, King James Version).
Whoever you are that's reading this devotional this morning, I want to plead with you to NEVER miss the opportunity to confess Jesus before men. You'll discover that very often and perhaps, on a daily basis, opportunities come our way to say either a word or otherwise do something before men in affirmation of our Saviour's cause or of our faith in Him.
The story of the man that was born blind, whose eyes were opened by the Lord Jesus reveals how men can for lack of moral courage deny the Savior, in spite of what He's done for them. Upon being questioned by the Pharisees whether the man whose sight had been restored was their son, and how he got his miracle, they responded saying in effect “We do not know how he got it,” which looks as if they did not believe their own son. “He is of age; ask him.” (John 9 verses 20 to 21). Hypocrites!
Isn't it sad to see some of us believers do exactly so today? When opportunities come our way to take our stand, and give a clear testimony for Jesus, we renege and are not forthcoming!
It's good that we understand that public affirmation or confession of the Lord Jesus and our faith in Him is a very powerful tool before us as Christians by which we propagate Him before men. I believe that we should also understand that to refuse, fail and/or to neglect to confess Jesus before men attracts serious consequences before God and His holy angels. According to the Lord Jesus,
"Whosoever 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 to 33, Luke 12 verses 8 to 9). To not confess Jesus looks pretty serious and should never be done by us.
Had the parents of the man that was born blind been courageous enough to affirm that indeed their son, though born blind had miraculously received his sight from Jesus of Nazareth, their testimony could have served immensely to convert many unto the Lord; but they chose not to do so because it would be too expensive for them to do.
Today, there are those Christians who do not want to identify with Jesus publicly if it's going to affect their position at work, in society, or if it will mean the loss of one worldly pleasure or the other. Sadly also, this is what is responsible for many not wanting to be Christians. For the parents of the man that was born blind, their fear was that should they confess Jesus publicly, they would be put out of the Synagogue:
"These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him." (John 9 verses 22 to 23).
Brethren, let not our focus be on this world and what it has to present us with. Let's recall the Word of Jesus, saying in Mark 8 verses 36 to 38:
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father."
PRAYER:
From henceforth my God, I seize every available opportunity to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, so help me Father, in Jesus name.