Quick! Duck! Here comes Jesus! Matthew 10:32-39

Today's Reading: Matthew 10:32-39

Have you ever been somewhere and seen someone you know but hide because you don't want people to know that you know that person? It's usually someone who embarrasses you. This person may be a rather LOUD and IN YOUR FACE type. Come on you know the type of person I'm referring to. Kind of the Cousin Eddie from "Christmas Vacation".
What about the people from your church? You know the ones that are a little "too Christian"? Do you duck out of the way so you don't have to be seen with them?
Jesus made a comment just after He taught that the disciples what it means to fear God. He said that anyone  "who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven." You might be thinking "I would NEVER deny Jesus". But we have to some extent. Have you ever felt that you should have told a person about Jesus but instead made an excuse? "They probably already go to church" you might say. Or, "They might already be Christian and I might offend them".
Jesus addressed this. He said to the disciples that they should not think that He came to bring PEACE and HARMONY to the world. Father will be against daughter and son. Brother will be against brother. All types
of relationship will be broken because of Him and what He is.
Anyone who "doesn't take up his cross and follow HIM is not worthy of HIM. Anyone finding his life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of HIM will find it" (capitalization mine and changed 'me' to HIM).
How often do we think of this? How often do we "Deny" Jesus. If He were in Walmart you you want to be seen with Him?