The Biscuit TrailSample

Telling Someone You Are a Christian

Fear can be a powerful motivator. It can motivate us to escape danger, or to wade deeper into it. If a wasp is hovering around your face, showing it a bit of respect so you don't get stung is probably a good idea. Leaping into the lion's den to escape the wasp, not so much.

Fear of men is a bit like fearing the wasp. People can hurt us. Rejection stings, and persecution and martyrdom are still real threats faced by followers of Jesus all over the world. But Jesus' words in Matthew 10:32-33 remind us that there is something much worse than anything the world can do to us. Being disowned by Jesus would be unimaginably worse.

Fear is a powerful motivator, and it can be useful when it spurs us away from sin and towards obedience. But love is an even more powerful motivator. Martyrs are made when love for their Lord forges an unbreakable bond of loyalty. Ideally, we will be motivated to confess our allegiance to Jesus by Jesus' promise to be loyal to us. But this might not be your starting point. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the start of the journey of obedience that will one day be your new nature as love and loyalty grow in your heart.

Action

Do people know you are a Christian? One way you can bring it up naturally is to tell people about your weekend - including highlights from your time at church. Another is to share what you've been reading in the scripture that you found interesting or helpful.

Prayer

Confess the ways in which you have allowed the fear of man to silence or influence you. Thank Jesus for His loyalty to you. Ask the Spirit to increase your love and loyalty to Jesus.

Pray for those who are persecuted to be bold and persevere, and for those who persecute them to stop and be forgiven.

Pray for courage and for opportunities to confess your belief in Jesus.