This is one of those remarks by Jesus that you don’t hear repeated much these
days--it sounds so intolerant. Jesus is warning his followers that the choice to
acknowledge him as King of kings and Lords of lords, as Israel’s Messiah and the
Savior of all peoples, will be a costly choice. Many are unwilling to accept
Jesus’ claims about himself--even though he offered himself up for us all and
rose from the dead. They can make life rough for those who proclaim their
loyalty to Christ alone.
So will we choose the applause of those unwilling to
have Jesus in authority over them or will we choose what Max Lucado calls the
applause of heaven? What must it be like to step into the light of the heavenly
throne room and hear Jesus acknowledge you as one of his own--a faithful servant
and a son or daughter--to hear myriads of angels shout and sing for joy over
another sinner saved by grace through faith in the Lord of all creation!
Pastor Charlie Scott
