Confessing Jesus before others
“Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 10:32 (NASB)
Ali (ah-LEE) glanced to his right and then to his left to make certain that no one was close enough to hear what he was about to say. He then leaned forward and whispered into my ear, “I have been a Christian for three years. I have been keeping it a secret from my family in Africa and my friends here in France.”
I was shocked, and my reaction showed! I had just presented the gospel and my personal testimony to Ali minutes before. Here we were, two foreigners standing in the middle of a French open-air market, and Ali stunned me with his secret. “Why?” I asked.
Ali explained. “Years ago, a Christian friend led me to Christ in Senegal just before my arrival here in France to work.” Then with a look of shame he said, “I was afraid that if I told my Muslim family about my newfound faith, they would take my wife and children from me. I was afraid that I would never be allowed to see them again when I returned to Africa.”
Ali regularly fellowships with Christian believers in France as he worships, prays and studies the Bible. He now says, “My strength is getting larger; I think I am ready to declare my faith to my family in Africa when I return. But I am still afraid of what might happen.”
Declaring our faith is not always easy to do, but as Christians, how can we keep silent?
Father, may I never be ashamed of confessing You before others. Give me courage when I need it. Give new converts from strict religious backgrounds the boldness to declare Jesus to family and friends. Amen.
Text exerpt from Voices of the Faithful. Order your own copy from the
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