The Fear of Being Slighted
Have you ever been slighted? You know, when you are with someone you hold in esteem and he or she denies you? For instance, a husband takes his wife to a holiday function with business associates and mingles around. His wife is at his side, but as he interacts with others, he fails to acknowledge his wife let alone introduce her.
Being slighted can hurt, whether with a spouse, among friends, or around business colleagues. No one likes it. It is personal and painful.
Jesus addressed this issue in Matthew 10:32, 33
Therefore, whoever confesses Me before me, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever does not confess Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
What will it feel like to stand before the Almighty on the Day of Judgment and be denied by the Lord? His words will be, “I never knew you; depart from Me…” (Matt. 7:23). This is one denial we will not overcome. There will be no reconciliation. There will not be enough time to get over it because time will be no more.
Why would the loving Lord who gave Himself for us do such a thing?
Because we will first deny Him.
During our time on earth we have the opportunity to either acknowledge the Savior or ignore Him. We can humbly submit to His will and honor Him with our service or turn away from Him. When faced with temptation, we must make this choice.
Most of us will likely never face the decision of either verbally denying Christ or be killed because of our spoken confession; like the apostles and saints of the first century. However, will do face situations where those around us are engaged in sin and we must decided to join them or leave, remain silent or speak out. When we cower from doing what is right, we in effect slight the Lord.
Do you think when we slight the Savior it hurts Him? Of course it does. He loves us deeply. When someone we love deeply denies us, it hurts. It is no different for Christ.
Let us be honorable and show true love for Jesus. Let us acknowledge Him in all our ways so that He will acknowledge us on the Last Day (cf. Prov. 3:6).
