Note: This if the final part of Matthew 10. Thank you for traveling with me through this chapter. If you have a minute, drop me a note on how the Lord has been speaking to you through this series. Thanks, Ed
Message, Authority, and Instruction (Part 7 – Receiving and Caring for Others)
“When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
Matthew 10:19-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.10.19-20.NLT
The 10th chapter of Matthew recounts the specific message, authority, and instructions the 12 disciples will need as they travel throughout Israel sharing the coming of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ.
Reflection
Jesus ends these instructions with a focus on receiving and caring for others who are following Christ:
- “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. What a gift and an opportunity. In receiving Christ, we also receive and know God the Father. In this world we would say “I know you, but I have never met your father.” With Christ it is different. To know him is to know the Father.
- If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. Wow, receiving and caring for a prophet of God provides the same reward, as if we were the ones doing the work of the prophet. This should give us all great hope, as not all of us are asked or gifted to be prophets. Yet, we participate in the reward of what they do by generous with our hospitality.
- And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. More encouragement here. Caring for those following Christ gives us the same reward. It is a way of taking part in righteousness together.
- And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” With Jesus, this isn’t about status or position. It is about taking care of anyone under any circumstance who is following Christ.
Matthew 10:40-42 NLT.
Encouragement
Do you see how Christ is drawing all of us into this great mission of letting the world know the good news of Jesus Christ?
Proclaiming, sharing, miraculous signs, hospitality, commitment, trusting God, loving Christ first, and caring for each other are all part of the journey we are on together.
Not everyone is going to be on board with what we are doing for Christ. We need to be ok with this, even when it involves family.
There will be great sacrifice. The rewards, greater still.
Let’s love and care for each other well as we share the good news of Christ with our circles of community and influence.
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank you ending this teaching with a focus on loving and caring for each other well.
This is what you have done for us.
We are so grateful to get to live for and follow you every day of our lives. Thank you.
“May your Kingdom come and your will be done, on earth, as it already is in heaven.”
In your name, Jesus, we pray,
Amen
Ed McDowell