I confess. [Romans 10 v 10]

The Lord opened the heart of  Lydia ,she became a believer, and she speaks to Paul and friends. She says ,''If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord'' ,I wonder if we said this to someone ,what  would they think or reply?.In  John 12 v42,-43 ,we read, how many Jewish leaders believed in Jesus,''but because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue ,for they loved praise from men more than praise from God''. There are to aspects as to why they were silent
,one was fear of man,secondly they loved the praise of men. They gave more thought as to what they would loose, if they openly confessed Christ.
As William Barclay writes, ''It would have meant an end to their place,their
profit,and their prestige. They would have been ostracised from society,and
banished from orthodox religion. It was too high a price to pay. So they lived a lie because they were not big enough to stand up for the truth'' Bruce
Milne points out,'' Those who expect the Lord to own their names on the day of judgement,he expects to own His name now before a watching world'',[ Mark 8 v38 ]
                                        
                                  I'm not ashamed to own my Lord
                                  Or to defend His cause,
                                  Maintain the honour of His word,
                                  The glory of His cross.
                                     [Words by Isaac Watts ]