Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests
to OurChristianWalk.com.
In Christ, Mark
In Christ, Mark
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk
** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The
Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn
** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
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.”
"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
“Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
Mark 6:10-11
“Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that
town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off
your feet as a testimony against them.”
Luke 9:4-5
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.
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 downright dangerous.
As we look at our passage today and through the rest of the scriptures in Matthew, Mark, and Luke over the next few days, we see that Jesus did not try and hide the fact that challenges awaited those who chose to serve and follow Him. And while the disciples had for the most part witnessed those who accepted, believed, and trusted in Jesus and the power He possessed up to this point, they hadn’t yet experienced those who weren’t so receptive.
As we look at our passage today and through the rest of the scriptures in Matthew, Mark, and Luke over the next few days, we see that Jesus did not try and hide the fact that challenges awaited those who chose to serve and follow Him. And while the disciples had for the most part witnessed those who accepted, believed, and trusted in Jesus and the power He possessed up to this point, they hadn’t yet experienced those who weren’t so receptive.
You see, the message that “the kingdom is near” wasn’t
just to be taken to those who wanted to receive it. Rather, it was to be
brought to everyone who then in turn could either receive it or reject it.
Let’s take a moment now to look at Matthew’s account as Jesus continues to give guidance to His chosen twelve before sending them off to carry out His tasking:
"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
For Jesus - who had instructed His disciples to travel without gold, silver, or copper as well as sans bag, extra tunic, sandals, or staff (Matthew 10:9-10) - was sending them to towns and villages where they were to “search for some worthy person” and “stay at his house until you leave”. The assumption was that there would be someone who would at least extend some form of hospitality but note that Jesus didn’t guarantee it.
"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
For Jesus - who had instructed His disciples to travel without gold, silver, or copper as well as sans bag, extra tunic, sandals, or staff (Matthew 10:9-10) - was sending them to towns and villages where they were to “search for some worthy person” and “stay at his house until you leave”. The assumption was that there would be someone who would at least extend some form of hospitality but note that Jesus didn’t guarantee it.
In fact, He prepared His disciples for the occasion when they
wouldn’t be welcomed, instructing them to “shake the dust off” their feet when they
would “leave that home or town”, a clear sign of rejection. Any home or town
who would turn away the disciples Jesus Himself had sent would be akin to
rejecting Him and that would not come without consequence. Indeed, Jesus said “it
will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment” than for
any home or town that snubbed Him and we know what happened to Sodom and
Gomorrah: mass destruction and annihilation.
Back to the scriptures where we find Jesus letting His
disciples know there were greater concerns in play than just rejection. For He warned
the 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.
Those who boldly go forth to unknown lands and among
unknown people can and will experience persecution. From this point forward,
not only the disciples but Jesus Himself would come face to face with harassment
and persecution first hand - ridiculed, arrested, beaten, and even killed for
the cause of God’s gift of salvation through His Son. Indeed, there would often
be a heavy price paid for stepping forth to do the work of Jesus and the twelve
were definitely being sent out by Him “like sheep among wolves”.
Now you might think to yourself, that was pretty bad and I’m sure glad things are different today. But the truth of the matter is that things haven’t changed and Christ’s disciples today continue to suffer and even die for the cause of sharing the gospel and representing their Savior. Consider these recent headlines all taken from the International Christian Concern website, “persecution.org”:
Friday, October 20th, 2017: A masked gunman stormed the mission house of the Christ Apostolic Church in Ondo State. When he entered late Monday night, he was looking for Rev. Oluwarotimi Akinroyeje, a clergyman with the Church. He then shot the Pastor, and according to one witness, waited until he died to leave.
Now you might think to yourself, that was pretty bad and I’m sure glad things are different today. But the truth of the matter is that things haven’t changed and Christ’s disciples today continue to suffer and even die for the cause of sharing the gospel and representing their Savior. Consider these recent headlines all taken from the International Christian Concern website, “persecution.org”:
Friday, October 20th, 2017: A masked gunman stormed the mission house of the Christ Apostolic Church in Ondo State. When he entered late Monday night, he was looking for Rev. Oluwarotimi Akinroyeje, a clergyman with the Church. He then shot the Pastor, and according to one witness, waited until he died to leave.
Thursday, October 19th, 2017: A number of Christians in
India's Chhattisgarh State have been hospitalized following a mob attack on a
church service last Sunday. According to local reports, members of the mob
dragged Christians out of the church and demanded they renounce their faith.
When they refused, the mob beat them. Attacks on Christians and their places of
worship in India have dramatically escalated under the current BJP-led
government. In 2016, Christians were attacked a total of 441 times. In the
first six months of 2017, Christians had already endured 410 attacks.
Tuesday, October 17th, 2017: An overwhelming majority, or
around 75 percent of religious persecution in the world, is aimed Christian
minorities. Due to the state backed persecution of Christians, North Korea is
one of the most dangerous places for Christians to practice their faith.
Persecuted Christians are hung on crosses over an open fire, starved, and
crushed by steamroller in North Korea. Unfortunately, the extent of Christian
persecution in the world is largely ignored by the mainstream media.
I could go on and on but it’s easy to see that fulfilling the Great
Commission today is still not for the faint of heart. The maltreatment of
Christians around the world is happening every day with the threat of injury,
arrest, or death looming constantly. The truth of the matter is that we
still live in a world where people are being harassed, abused, attacked, and killed
for the cause of the gospel. We can’t afford to close our eyes to this truth
and need to be in constant prayer for those who are brave enough to stare death
in the face for the cause of Christ Jesus.
Friends, 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 that work would be easy. He ended up hated enough that people wanted to kill Him although He had done nothing but heal and teach and love and save.
Friends, 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 that work would be easy. He ended up hated enough that people wanted to kill Him although He had done nothing but heal and teach and love and save.
And all along, He knew that it was His destiny.
As for us, we already know our destiny. For through Jesus, our salvation is secure (John 3:16) and our eternal fate is to live with Him and God the Father forever. Because of Christ and because of Him alone, death will not be the end for us but rather the start of a glorious life eternal, a life free from pain and sin and suffering.
Yes, through Jesus, our future is set. But until that time when this life is over and we enter into the promised glory, we need to prepared to risk everything for the cause of Jesus and His gospel, just as He did, no matter how dangerous things may get. He never said following Him would be easy but He did promise an eternal reward that will be the best life ever. It’s a life worth risking this life for to help others find their own salvation.
As for us, we already know our destiny. For through Jesus, our salvation is secure (John 3:16) and our eternal fate is to live with Him and God the Father forever. Because of Christ and because of Him alone, death will not be the end for us but rather the start of a glorious life eternal, a life free from pain and sin and suffering.
Yes, through Jesus, our future is set. But until that time when this life is over and we enter into the promised glory, we need to prepared to risk everything for the cause of Jesus and His gospel, just as He did, no matter how dangerous things may get. He never said following Him would be easy but He did promise an eternal reward that will be the best life ever. It’s a life worth risking this life for to help others find their own salvation.
Just ask any of your brothers and sisters in other
nations who are doing just that this very day.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
No comments:
Post a Comment