“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” v28-30

Indeed, Jesus is THE source of refuge, protection, peace, and rest.  He Provides a rest found nowhere else.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have protected me from much and You have provided rest when I have been weary.  You are indeed a great God!  Thank You for such rest and for helping carry my burdens.  I am not worthy of such love.  I am impatient, angry, harsh, etc.  Please forgive me.  Help me be the man You intend for me.

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Matthew 10

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” v42

Jesus wants us to love and care for everyone but here my sense is that He is focused on our fellow believers.  As Jesus is sending out the twelve to spread the good news of Jesus, he recognizes that His disciples (in particular the 12 apostles) will face persecution.  He knows that they will need to seek refuge in the arms of their brothers and sisters in Christ.  This is our call.  We are to love others by spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and to support, encourage, and minister to those that spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You love and care for everyone, regardless of whether they deserve it or not.  You love me...You died for me...incredible.  I have sinned and I will continue to sin...yet You love me anyway...thank You Jesus for Your grace, mercy and kindness.  Please forgive me.  Help me be the man You intend for me.

"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."

Matthew 10

"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." v39

If there was ever doubt that Jesus should be the primary love of our life...that doubt is dispelled here and in the previous verses.  We are as it says in Matthew 22:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[c] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. " Matthew 22:37-38

This is also stated in Luke 10:27, Deu 6, 10, 11, 13, and 30, Joshua 22, and Mark 12.  Clearly this is IMPORTANT!

My Prayer: Lord, You are the ONLY God and You are my God.  You are available to me anytime, any place, and for any reason.  You listen...and You are an active, caring, loving God that loves to spend time for me.  You have blessed me beyond what I deserve - I am not worthy.  I continue to have anxiety, stress, pride, arrogance, harshness, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me be the man You intend for me.

“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.