Credit. We all want it. It’s a pride thing, isn’t it? If we do something notable, don’t we want people to know about it? I know I certainly do, and I especially don’t want somebody else to get credit for something I’ve done.
In my bible reading this morning (Matthew 9 and 10), I read this: “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
I don’t think Jesus is begging for credit here, as we would do, but is simply setting the record straight. In the previous chapter, 9:34, it was said he cast out demons by the prince of demons, and in chapter 10:24-25 he said “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.”
The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews says in 13:15, 16 “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Even Solomon, the wisest of men, tells us in Proverbs 3:6 “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
So let’s see. We can acknowledge Jesus and in doing so 1) offer a pleasing sacrifice to God, 2) have our way laid out for us and 3) be remembered before God. As opposed to ignoring Jesus and being denied by him. Seems like a no-brainer, and I’m not even the wisest man in the world!
