“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven."

Matthew 10

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." v32-33

Wow...intense stuff!  The extent to which we publicly demonstrate our love of Jesus says alot.  I have often thought this way...for example, when I go to lunch with people I know are not believers and I am ashamed of my faith so I don't say a blessing and thank Jesus for the provision of a meal.  I KNOW this shows weakness on my part - that I don't love Jesus as I should.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind"...Luke 10:27

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God beyond what words can describe.  I DO love You.  Yet I don't love You as I should.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength. 

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.

Matthew 10

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. v28

Anxiety and stress should not play a significant role in my life but they do...yet here Jesus gives me even more reason to not worry, to not have anxiety, and to not stress out:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. v29-31

Jesus wants me to be on watch for Satan and to have a healthy fear of Satan but KNOW that Jesus is always there protecting me in my time of need.  Jesus is all that I need.  He knows all about me, all of the time and He provides for all of my needs.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, YOU are all that I need...in ALL circumstances You will be there providing for my every need...even though I might not even be able to recognize my own needs or what is good for me - You are in control and You love me...this is all that I need to know.  How great a God are You!  Thank You that You love me despite my worry, anxiety, and stress.  Help me Jesus give this up.  Help me be the man You intend for me.

"You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Matthew 10

²² You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 

Jesus knows what will happen to the disciples when He sends them out and He knows what happens to us when we stand firm in the Lord...He will ultimately save us either in this world or in heaven.  I never have felt threatened for my life regarding my belief in Jesus yet if I was I know I would at least get some comfort (hopefully great comfort) in knowing how Jesus will always be there.  We are not guaranteed an outcome regarding live or die in this world but we are guaranteed an outcome regarding if we stand firm He will save us from eternal damnation.  What a great God!!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God.  You are always there to listen, to empathize, and to work in our lives.  You answer prayer, and You save us from eternal damnation.  There is of course so much more to Your greatness...my words cannot do You justice.  Thank You that You love me despite my sin Jesus - today I am full of harshness for others...my friends.  Please forgive me!  Help me be more encouraging.  Help me be the man You intend for me.

"But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

Matthew 10

"But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."  v19-20

Through BSF and our study of Matthew, I am reading alot about the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit is always with you.  This theme is certainly present in 10:19-20 when Jesus tells the disciples not to worry about what to say.  I really need to impress this in my heart because I need to pause when I speak so that I can ALLOW the Holy Spirit to speak through me.  Too often I am NOT quick to listen and slow to speak as encouraged by James:

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry...]." James 1:19

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are always there not only to listen but to empathize, to speak to, and to be a comfort and source of peace like no other.  You are the Lord of Lords, the Name above all Names.  You are SO GREAT!  I am clearly unworthy of the blessing You provide DAILY!  Thank You that You love me despite my apathy towards You, my sloth, my impatience, my anger, my fear, etc.  Forgive me for these and my other sins.  Help me love You with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength.

"...no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep."

Matthew 10

"...no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep."

As Jesus sends His disciples out to spread the Good News, He urges them to take no money.  I think what is going on here is that first He does not want the disciples to be focused on earning money but instead on saving the lost - purely a matter of focus and everyone is worth saving regardless of who has any money or not.  Another thing I think going on here is that Jesus is giving them all jobs and He wants the disciples to know that ONLY Jesus will provide so their trust should remain in Jesus alone.  Also, while I may be reading into this perhaps I think Jesus wants us to feel blessed by blessing others and to enjoy the riches of this reward vs any monetary payment.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus You are incredible...that You love and bless me!  I am not deserving of all the ways You bless me...I am not even worthy of identifying all the ways You bless me because there are too many for my human mind to comprehend!  How great You are!  Thank You that You love me despite my apathy and neglect for You - that I don't run to your feet daily.  Please help me love You with all of my heart, mind and soul.

 

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Matthew 10

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. v2-4

What is interesting here is how Judas is introduced both as one of the twelve apostles but also as someone who betrayed Jesus....to me this is written this way to communicate how God uses even those who sin as part of His plan.  Although it is not clear, perhaps Judas was a great apostle before he betrayed Jesus.  Also, God redeems all sin for His glory.

My Prayer: Lord, You are pure and holy and sinless. Of course I am NOT.  I am full of anger, stress, anxiety, fear, impatience, all things I am guilty of today or very recently.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me be the man You intend for me.

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” v37-38

Matthew 9

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” v36-38

 In v36, Jesus sees people as humans and he sees right through the "face" all us, myself included put up that mask our humanity.  Our humanity is of course a jumble of fears, concerns, sin of course, etc.  All of humanity craves love and craves peace....who does not crave fruits of the Spirit?  Yet we pretend we don't or we pretend have it covered.  Nonsense...speaking at least for myself.

I am in desperate need of both forgiveness and all that Jesus represents - the Holy Spirit, etc.  I NEED God in my life.  I also NEED to see this NEED in others and speak to people so I can relate to people according to their need...in other words serve them.  Jesus of course does this and urges us to serve others.  According to Matthew 22:39:

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my great shepherd.  You see that I need to be led and cared for and provide this and so much more for me.  I am not deserving of the great love blessing You provide.   I am full of anger, impatience, harshness, etc.  I know You love me anyway so thank You but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me be the man You intend for me. Help me love You and others with all of my heart, soul, and mind.