He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?”’ (Matthew 16:15)

A seemingly odd, out-of-the-blue and definitely in-your-face kinda question wasn’t it?

Jesus put this question to His disciples that He might have their sense of Him.  They had believed in Him, they had become His disciples and they had followed Him.  But that was not enough; they needed to confess Him.

Why?  Because sometimes what we believe and what we say do not align.  Or as a friend says, “They don’t line up!”  The danger in that is that people sometimes cannot hear what you are saying because they are watching what you are doing.

Jesus expected that His followers would know more about Him than any others and that they would be ready, willing and able to confess their faith giving a reason for their hope in Him (1 Peter 3:15).

He expects the same of us, His followers, today.

And more.

It is not enough that we believe or follow; we must confess and be ready to give an account for our faith in Him.  We must share His truth at all times and, as Francis Assisi said, use words if necessary.

If necessary?  Well, how else would we share His truth if not with words?  In our actions, our deeds, our appearance, our relationships, our choices…  Everything about us should testify of who He is, even our words – if necessary.

THIS WEEK make every effort to be fully cognizant of who you say He is.  Examine your words but also your actions and interactions.  Do they testify of Christ?  Consider what needs to change.  Pray for His leading, and be quick to hear and obey!