Scripture

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on Earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”

Observation

Jesus warns that those who acknowledge him here on earth, he will acknowledge before his Father in heaven, but those who deny Him, he will also deny.

Jesus did not come to bring peace to the earth but conflict. Families are divided and a person’s enemy will be found in their own household.

We must love Jesus more than we love our own family.

Those who receive the disciples receive the Father. Those who receive a prophet will receive the reward of the prophet. Anyone who offers even a cup of water to a follower of Jesus will receive a reward from the Father.

Application

This section is all about loving Jesus above all things – family, friends, life itself.

All followers of Jesus must declare their faith publicly. Often this is done at baptism, but we need to be open about our faith in our daily life.

If we try to leave as “secret agents” in God’s Kingdom, then Christ will not acknowledge us as his followers on the Day of Judgement.

We are all made differently, with different gifts. Some of us are called to be preachers, others Hollywood celebrities, still others to be quiet workers in the community or at home. We all need to make sure that, regardless of our calling and personality, the people we influence know that we love the Lord.

Prayer

Lord, these words are confronting. Please help me to be public with my faith, and advocate for you in a world that is opposed to you. Amen.

Scripture

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Observation

Families will be split apart by the preaching of the gospel. We will be hated by all people because of Christ. But those who stand firm to the end will be saved.

The head of the house is called Beelzebub, so how much more will the followers face opposition?

We must not be afraid of people, who can kill the body but not the soul. Rather, we must be afraid of the Father, who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

Application

Jesus was persecuted by religious leaders, and so we too should expect opposition at the hands of people.

Christians are the most persecuted people in the world. We have a false sense of what life is like because the church in the West has been a dominant part of culture for many centuries. Yet, for people in parts of Asia and Africa, becoming a Christian means to sign up for imprisonment, alienation from family, torture, or death.

When people oppose us because of our faith, we must stand firm. The most they can do is destroy our body. But if we break under the pressure and deny Christ, then we may face eternity in hell separated from Him.

So we must stand firm and endure to the end, even when following Jesus seems to make life difficult.

Prayer

Lord, please help my brothers and sisters for whom living for you brings severe persecution. Please help them to remain steadfast in their faith. Amen.

Scripture

“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.”

Observation

Jesus continues his instructions to the Twelve as He commissions them to go with the Good News.

When they enter a city or a village they are to look for a person of honour, that is someone who is open to the message. They are to stay in his home until they leave that town. They should bless the home as they enter it.

If a town or household refuses the message, they should shake the dust off their feet as they leave.

Jesus is sending them out like sheep among wolves. They are to be shrewd like snakes and gentle like doves. They will be arrested and put on trial because of the gospel, but this is an opportunity to tell the magistrates and rulers about Jesus.

Application

Christians often naively assume that if we are nice, people will accept the gospel. No, the world and many unsaved people are opposed to the message. They hate the name of Jesus and our niceness will not persuade them as such.

This is not to say that christians should not be loving towards unsaved people. We should expect that people will treat us like wolves might react to a sheep in their midst.

Yes there will be persecution. There will be unfair treatment by governments, media, and culture.

Jesus tells us to be shrewd like a snake. That is, we must be ready for opposition and work out how to react to it. We must also be gentle like a dove, not repaying evil for evil, but always imitating Jesus all the way to the cross.

Prayer

Lord, it is true that many people hate you. Please help me to discern who is open to your salvation and to share the Good News with them. Amen.