Luke 12:8

Devotional Thoughts

By David Wilkerson

What does it mean to confess or deny Christ before men? The Greek word for confess in Matthew 10:32-33 means “covenant” or “assent.” Jesus is speaking of an agreement we have with him. Our part is to confess, or represent, him in our daily lives. We do this by trusting in his promises to care for us and by testifying of it through how we live.

The Lord had just told his listeners, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will” (10:29). He was saying, Think of the billions of birds throughout the earth. To this day, not one has died without the heavenly Father knowing it. Do you think your God cares less for you?

Christ then pointed out, “The very hairs of your head are all numbered” (10:30). He was emphasizing that the Father knows so much about you it’s beyond your ability to comprehend. You can never grasp how detailed his care for you is.

Jesus summed it all up by commanding, “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (10:31). In other words: Think of what I’ve just revealed to you about the Father’s care. You’re to confess this truth to the whole word, leading a life that declares, “God cares for me.” We may state our belief in Jesus, worship him and even preach his name, but if we live in fear we are not testifying to the world of his care.

Finally, Christ promises, “Him will I confess also before my Father” (Matthew 10:32). On judgment day, Jesus will take us by the hand, lead us to the Father’s throne and state, “Here is one who believed my Word. He lived before men with absolute confidence that I valued him, demonstrating that I cared for him in every detail. He knew I had reasons for allowing everything that happened in his life. And even in his most difficult times, he cast all his cares and fears on me, proclaiming to the world that I cared for him. He trusted me all the way through.”