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Scripture: Matthew 10:17-22
17 Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
Meditation: What is the connection between Bethlehem and
Calvary - the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and his passion and
death on a cross? The very reason the Son of God took on flesh and
became a man for our sake was to redeem us from slavery to sin and
death and to give us new life as the adopted children of God. The
way to glory in the kingdom of God is through the cross. If we
want to share in Jesus' glory, then we, too, must take up our
cross each day and follow in his footsteps.
The cost of following and serving the Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus never hesitated to tell his disciples what they might expect
if they followed and served him. Here Jesus says to his disciples
- This is my task for you at its grimmest and worst; do you accept
it? This is not the world's way of offering glory, honor, and
success. After the defeat at Dunkirk during World War II,
Churchill offered his country "blood, toil, sweat, and tears."
Suffering for the name of Jesus Christ is not the message we
prefer to hear when the Lord commissions us in his service.
Nonetheless, our privilege is to follow in the footsteps of the
Master who laid down his life for us. The Lord gives us sufficient
grace to follow him and to bear our cross with courage and hope.
Do you know the joy and victory of the cross of Jesus Christ?
"Lord Jesus, your coming in the flesh to ransom us from slavery to sin gives us cause for great rejoicing even in the midst of trials and pain. Help me to patiently and joyfully accept the hardships, adversities, and persecution which come my way in serving you. Strengthen my faith and give me courage that I may not shrink back from doing your will".
Psalm 31:3-8,15-16
3 Yes, you are my rock and my fortress; for
your name's sake lead me and guide me,
4 take me out of the net which is hidden for me, for you are my
refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
6 You hate those who pay regard to vain idols; but I trust in the
LORD.
7 I will rejoice and be glad for your steadfast love, because you
have seen my affliction, you have taken heed of my adversities,
8 and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have
set my feet in a broad place.
15 My times are in your
hand; deliver me from the hand of my
enemies and persecutors!
16 Let your face shine on your
servant; save me in your merciful
love!
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Your Father speaks through you in every age, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"To be sure, we heard in that reading, 'But when they deliver you
up, do not be anxious how or what you are to speak... for it is
not you who are speaking but the Spirit of your Father who speaks
through you.' And he says in another place: 'Behold, I am with you
always, even to the end of the world' (Matthew 28:20). Does this
mean that the people who heard those words of the Lord would be
here until the end of the world? The Lord was referring, rather,
not only to those about to depart from this life but also to the
others, including us and those who would come after us in this
life. He saw everyone in his single body, and the words he spoke,
'I am with you even to the end of the world,' were heard by them
and by us too. And if we did not hear them then in our knowledge,
we heard them in his foreknowledge. Therefore, safe as sheep among
the wolves, let us keep the commandments of him who directs us.
And let us be 'innocent as doves but cautious as snakes' (Matthew
10:16). Innocent as doves that we may not harm anyone; cautious as
snakes that we may be careful of letting anyone harm us."
(excerpt from SERMON 64A.2)
Scripture quotations from Common Bible:
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright
1973, and Ignatius Edition of the Revised Standard
Version of the Bible, copyright 2006, by the
Division of Christian Education of the National
Council of the Churches of Christ in the United
States of America. Used by permission. All rights
reserved. Citation references for quotes from
the writings of the early church fathers can be
found here.
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The Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations is in need of on-going development to expand resources and to reach people around the world. If you would like to contribute, you can make an online donation. |