ESOCS Devotional 17 September 2026 – Confessing Christ Before Men
MEMORY VERSE: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32 KJV).
TEXT: MATTHEW 10: 16 – 32
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
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In our memory verse, we read a profound promise from our Lord: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” This simple yet powerful verse invites us into a deep understanding of the relationship between faith, confession, and divine endorsement. When Jesus speaks of confession, He is not merely referring to an acknowledgment of His existence. Instead, He calls us into a bold declaration of faith – a public recognition of His lordship over our lives.
Confession before men can take on many forms: sharing the Gospel with a friend, standing firm in one’s beliefs in a hostile environment, or living a life that bears witness to the transformative power of Christ. This act of confession is not for Jesus’s sake; it is for ours. It asserts our position in Christ and positions us favorably before God. In a world that constantly challenges our beliefs and values, the call to confess Christ openly can feel daunting. Our text sheds more light by informing us the trials and tribulations that comes with confessing Christ.
These includes persecutions, hatred, betrayal by close families and sometimes death (Matthew 10:17-23). Jesus reminds us that our testimony not only solidifies our own faith but becomes vital and serves as a beacon of hope and truth in a darkened world when we confess Him before men.
Living in the light of this confession means that we are called to be ambassadors of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” As believers, we carry the responsibility of representing Him in every sphere of our lives. Whether it’s in our workplaces, schools, or communities, our actions must align with the truth we proclaim. In this way, our confession is not only verbal but is also demonstrated through our actions and lifestyle.
Moreover, the promise that follows this confession is profound and comforting: “him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” What a beautiful reassurance! The idea that Jesus, our Savior, will acknowledge us before God fills our hearts with gratitude and confidence. He stands as our advocate, interceding for us at the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34). The weight of this promise lies in the acknowledgment of who we are in Christ. When we confess Him publicly, He, in turn, confesses our names before God. This speaks to the intimate relationship we have with Him and underscores the importance of our witness.
In practical terms, how can we live out this calling? First, we need to cultivate a heart that desires to share the Good News. Let prayer be our foundation, asking God for opportunities to speak truth into the lives of those around us. Second, we encourage ourselves in community. Surrounding ourselves with fellow believers can embolden our witness, as we share testimonies, pray for one another, and support each other in our walks of faith. Let us embrace the call of Matthew 10:32 as a challenge and a privilege. As we openly confess Jesus before men, let us also celebrate the promise that He will acknowledge us before the Father.
Challenges:
- Are you willing to be hated because you love God?
- Ask God to show you areas where you are tied to the world and need to be freed from its hold in your life.
Prayer:
O Lord, may our lives be a constant testimony to His grace, and may our confessions draw others closer to Him in an ever-growing relationship of faith in Jesus name. Amen.
FURTHER READING:
Nehemiah 2: 1 – 8; 2 Samuel 23:16 – 39; 1 Cor. 1: 17 – 31
ESOCS Devotional 17 September 2026
