NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.”

Matthew 10:11-18

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

There is one thing the disciples of Jesus learned both in their time with Him and in their time of carrying on the gospel after His crucifixion and resurrection.

Doing the work of Christ was not for the faint of heart. In fact, it was down right dangerous.

As we look at our passage today and through the rest of Chapter 10 over the next few days, Jesus did not try and hide the fact that challenges awaited those who chose to serve and follow Him. While the disciples up to this point had for the most part witnessed those who believed and trusted in Jesus and the power He possessed, they hadn’t yet experienced those who weren’t so receptive. You see, the gospel wasn’t just to be taken to those who wanted to receive it. No…the gospel was to be brought to everyone who then could either accept and receive it or reject it.

Let’s look at our scripture.

For Jesus, who had instructed His disciples to travel without “gold…silver or copper”…without a “bag…or extra tunic”…”sandals or a staff” (Matthew 10:9-10), was sending them to towns and villages where they were to “search for some worthy person…stay at his house until you leave”. The assumption was that there would be someone who would at least extend hospitality but Jesus didn’t guarantee it. In fact, He prepared His disciples for the time they wouldn’t be welcomed, telling them they were to “shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town”…a sign of rejection. Indeed, Jesus Himself said that “it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment” than for any town that rejected Him and the gospel.

But there were greater concerns in play than just rejection. For Jesus further warned His chosen twelve to "be on your guard against men” who would hand them “over to the local councils” and then inflict punishment by flogging them in the synagogues. Indeed, there would often be a heavy price paid for stepping forward on the account of Jesus.

The disciples were definitely being sent out by Jesus “like sheep among wolves”.

Now you might say to yourself…I’m sure glad it isn’t like that today. But don’t be so sure. In fact, people today continue to suffer and even die for the cause of sharing the gospel and representing Jesus.

Consider these recent headlines all taken from the website, “Persecution.com”:

- A pastor in India was attacked by more than 10 extremists, who forcibly entered a believer’s home where the pastor was holding a prayer meeting. The pastor was struck with glass bottles and was kicked and punched mercilessly. He suffered severe injuries to his leg and head.

- A former-Muslim couple who led a house church, were arrested by secret police in Iran. Twenty secret police officers arrested and assaulted the woman when she resisted. Her husband was also arrested when he returned home. Several other believers present at the time were threatened but not detained although one was also assaulted when he protested the arrests.
Police confiscated computers, telephones and literature, including many Bibles. The couple’s case is being referred to the Revolutionary Court.

- In Laos, a group of Christians were expelled from a village because they refused to recant their faith in Jesus Christ. The believers were living in makeshift shelters about 4 miles outside the village, where they were abandoned in January without food or shelter.

- In China, police officials arrested 60 Christians attending a worship service and charged them with “disturbing social orders under the name of religious activities.” The police fined five brothers and sentenced them to 10 days administrative detention. Police then decided to increase the sentence of the church’s leader to one year re-education through labor in addition to an exorbitant fine.

Friends, the truth of the matter is that we still live in a world where people get killed for the cause of the gospel. And we need to be in constant prayer for those who are brave enough to stare death in the face for the cause of Jesus.

Jesus called us to make disciples of all nations…to baptize in His name…and to teach obedience to all He commanded.

But He never said it would be easy.

They hated Jesus enough to kill Him although He had done nothing but heal and teach and love. And He knew that this was to be His destiny.

In Him, we know our salvation is secure (John 3:16). We too know our destiny is to be with Jesus forever. Like Him, death will not be the end for us but rather the start of an eternal life free from pain and sin and suffering.

Yes…through Jesus…our future is set. But until then, we need to prepared to risk everything for the cause of His gospel…just as He did…no matter how dangerous things might get.

For know this…being a dedicated, faithful disciple for Christ, isn’t for the faint of heart.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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