Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
After folks decide not to associate themselves too closely with the gospel or with Christ’s kingdom, because the truth has become very unpopular, the very next step is to go in, and sit with the mob, just like Peter did, so as to hide one’s convictions under the proverbial bushel, lest the truth in the matters be known. And satan observes all this.
Therefore, by sitting in the seat of the scornful, one places himself on satan’s enchanted ground, and he will certainly buckle under pressure, when the heat of the furnace is turned up several notches, because all of the preliminary steps in denying Christ and the gospel have already been taken.
In other words, the Christian who only follows Jesus when it is convenient and pleasant to do so, will not be able to stand his ground in times of real peril, for a pattern of choosing the path of least resistance is established, and unless there is a radical change in one’s mode of thought and action, the observations made by satan will bear fruit in denial of Christ.
Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!