There are so many verses which are very popular on the lips of preachers and adorns the walls of our homes, but there are quite a few that are not so popular!
Jesus said, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, this is the one who will save it. For what good does it do a person if he gains the whole world, but loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels. Luke 9:23-26
Here Jesus says that one has to deny himself, take up his own cross daily and follow me.. then he goes on to say if you want to save your life you will lose it, but if anyone loses his life for My sake this is the one who will save his life.. He also said whoever is ashamed of Me and My words He will be ashamed of him when He comes in glory.. whether we feel comfortable or not hearing these is immaterial cos these ARE the words of Jesus and His every word, dot and tittle will come to pass.
On another occasion Jesus was invited at a prominent Pharisee’s house and He turns to the one who invited Him and says this:
And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14
Jesus spoke what needs to be spoken. In today’s world of political correctness people try to please everyone and the world is in a mess created by the not-spoken Truth. Knowing the truth is one thing and speaking the truth is another thing.
God gave great wisdom and revelation to apostle Paul and He went ahead and spoke the truth everywhere He was supposed to, saying, If I am trying to please men I should not be a servant of Christ.
“For am I now seeking the favour of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
Apostle Paul asked prayers not for his selfish needs but that right words be given to him when he speaks and also that boldness be given to him when he speaks-
“Pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:19-20
What a great model he left behind for us to follow after our Lord Jesus Christ!
