The least in the kingdom

The least in the kingdom

Scripture:

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear. Matthew 11:11-15

Observation:

Continuing to speak of John the Baptist, the Lord explains how up till now, there has not been a greater prophet than him. John the Baptist was the last prophet of the Old Testament, the final link to herald in the commencement of the new covenant in Jesus Christ. Yet, Jesus said, the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John on earth. This reminds us to always have a kingdom perspective and to remember that things on earth are only temporal and it is our future in Heaven that truly matters.

The Lord then exclaims how since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence and that violent people have been raiding it. This has long been a verse that is hard to understand and has been subject to various interpretations. The first part regarding how the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence can be seen in the imprisonment of John the Baptist who would later be beheaded.

The second part speaks of violent people raiding the kingdom of Heaven. How do people enter the kingdom of God? They have to be meek, humble, repentant, like little children. How can they be violent? However, the word used for “violent” here actually means “forceful”, and the early Christians who were Jews actually had to enter the kingdom of God forcefully, in the sense, that they had to cling on to their faith in the face of severe persecution from the Pharisees, the teachers of the law and even their own families. Without that firm conviction to their faith, they would fall away easily.

At this point, the Lord referred to how the Law and the Prophets prophesied of the coming Messiah, and declared that John the Baptist was indeed the fulfillment of the prophesied Elijah that was to come. In other words, Jesus was confirming that what John preached was true and that Jesus is the Messiah

Application:

Remember that the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than the greatest man on earth. Ultimately, it is the kingdom that matters most,over anything on earth. Remember too that those who follow Christ can be subjected to violence, and it also takes great forcefulness and determination to cling on to our faith, in the face of persecution. This after all, will become increasingly relevant in the approaching end times. Praise the Lord that He is our Savior, our Messiah, and that we are saved in His name.

Prayer:

Praise thee, Father in Heaven, for You hold all time in Your hands. Everything that happens does so according to Your will. You placed John the Baptist where he was according to Your perfect timing, and sent our Lord Jesus, at just the right time in history. Help us remember O Lord to seek first always Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Help us to stand firm and strong, even in the face of persecution or violence. Preserve our soul, O Lord, keep us faithful and strong. Let us be found worthy for the day of Your coming. In Jesus name, Amen.

                                            

The reed in the wilderness

The reed in the wilderness

Scripture:

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ’‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,  who will prepare your way before you.’ Matthew 11:7-10

Observation:

In this passage, we see the Lord speaking to the crowd about John the Baptist. In the time of his ministry, John must have been a strange sight indeed, wearing clothes of camels hear and living in the wilderness by himself. Yet crowds went out to see him in droves because they knew he was a prophet. They knew that through him, they could hear the Words of God. The Lord then further explained that John was indeed a prophet, and even more than a prophet, for he had the specific ministry of preparing the way for the Messiah, the Savior of Israel, the Lord Jesus Himself. And John the Baptist did his job excellently, regularly telling his listeners to get ready for the coming of the Messiah.

Application:

The anointing of a person comes not from his outward appearance or lifestyle but by the quality of his heart and his relationship with God. We may look right and dress right and speak the right words, go to the right meetings, but ultimately, it is our personal heart and relationship with God that ascertains the true character of our person.

In the days of John the Baptist, the people were so hungry for God that they took great trouble to go out into the wilderness to find what they had heard was a true prophet of God. How hungry are we today for God? Pray for God to give us that hunger to seek Him more.

John the Baptist had the ministry of preparing the way for the Messiah and he did so faithfully in telling people to expect the coming of Jesus. This ministry is now handed over to us who know the Lord, to likewise tell others of the imminent return of our Lord Jesus as well. This time, He will come in power and glory on the clouds, where He will make everything new. Pray that He may show us how to prepare the way for Him in the hearts of others.

Prayer:

We thank You, Lord, for the life of John the Baptist, the great prophet that shook the nation of Israel in preparation for Your coming. Teach me Lord, not to judge by outward appearances, but to look at the heart, even my own, and to seek You deeply, genuinely, just as I am. Create in me a fresh, new hunger O Lord for You, that I may truly seek You more and more in my life. Teach me and guide me O Lord, even in preparing the way for You in the hearts of my friends and family. Blessed be Your name forever, O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.   

The blind see, the lame walk, the dear hear

The blind see, the lame walk, the dear hear

Scripture:

After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Matthew 11:1-6

Observation:

In spite of His busyness and great ministry of teaching and preaching, our Lord Jesus also set aside a lot of time to instruct His twelve disciples. Many great leaders are too busy performing the main functions that they forget the importance of training their successors. Jesus knew that a time would soon come when He would leave. Thereafter, His disciples would need to depend on His teachings as their foundation once He was no longer with them.

John the Baptist, who was imprisoned at that time by King Herod, perhaps wavered in his faith, because of the harsh conditions. To clear his doubt, John asked his disciples to ask Jesus straight out “Are you really the Messiah”? Our Lord Jesus did not answer them directly but asked them to report the signs and wonders that they saw - the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, healings from leprosy, the deaf hearing and the dead raised. Also, the good news was being proclaimed to the poor, that salvation had become available to them. All these signs were evidence of prophecy fulfilled as declared in Isaiah 61 concerning the Messiah.

Spiritually, this pattern is also applicable. Before we know Christ, we are spiritually blind, we cannot see the things of God. We are spiritually lame in that we cannot walk in the righteousness of Christ. We are spiritually deaf because we cannot hear what God may say to us. We have spiritual leprosy which is sin in us, which slowly devours us. And we are spiritually dead for the things of the Spirit mean nothing to us. We also have no good news to proclaim to the poor, for we ourselves are poor. However, once we receive the salvation of Jesus Christ, our eyes are opened and we can see spiritual things. We walk with new purpose in service of Christ. We can hear the Words of our Master who leads us and guides us by His Spirit. We are now spiritually alive for Jesus is alive in us. Having and experiencing this good news, we are also able to proclaim it to the poor, who do not have the joy of knowing Jesus Christ.

Blessed is the man who does not stumble on account of Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone. Perhaps John the Baptist had begun to stumble. A person who stumbles is not walking properly. This has to do with faith. When Peter had faith, he could walk even on water. When his faith wavered, he sank with the waves until Jesus saved him. Hardship and discouragement can make our faith waver, when we lose complete trust in Jesus Christ.

Application:

All of us somehow or other will occupy some kind of position of leadership, whether corporately, in business or church, or even in our own families. We are at least an elder brother or sister to those younger than us or those with less experience. Remember the importance of setting time aside to train and disciple those that we lead.

Some of us may have known the Lord for many years now, but somehow, because of the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth or desires for other things, are spiritual sensitivity has become dull again. We may not see or hear well regarding the things of God. We may have lost the surety of our walk with God. We may have let sin gain a foothold in our lives and let it slowly devour us. We may not have good news left to share, for we have forgotten the joy of knowing the Lord. The call is for us to repent and return to Jesus Christ, and pray that He will restore spiritual life in us again, to make our spiritual sight and hearing keen again, to strengthen our walk with Him, to give us the joy that causes us to share His goodness with others.

Prayer:

Praise You, Lord, for You are my Mighty God. O How I need Your Spirit. Forgive me Lord Jesus, for the parts in my life where I have turned back to the ways of the world and let my passion cool and become spiritually dead again. Rekindle O Lord, that flame of Your Spirit in my life. Let Your Word become alive again to me I pray. Let my heart yearn to call out to You in prayer again. Let my ears be keen to hear Your guidance again. Give me that deep joy again O Lord of knowing You, even when I first loved You. Praise You, Lord Jesus, create that fresh desire in my heart for You. Blessed be Your holy name. In Jesus name, Amen.

                                                                                                                                                                             

Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me

Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me

Scripture:

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 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 10:40-42

Observation:

The Lord now explains to His disciples how when they go out in His service, they represent the Lord Himself, and God the Father in Heaven who sent Him. Therefore anyone who welcomes a disciple of Jesus is effectively welcoming the Lord Himself and God the Father in Heaven. How important it is then that we show great hospitality to God’s servants, especially those in full time. If we welcome a prophet, we will receive a prophet’s reward and if we welcome a righteous person, we will receive a righteous person’s reward. Even if we give a cup of cold water to the youngest of God’s servants, our reward is also assured. What is the nature of these rewards the Lord speaks of?

In another portion of Scripture, the Lord speaks of treasures in Heaven which moth and rust cannot destroy. He also spoke about many rooms in His Father’s house. How beautiful those rooms will be we could scarcely imagine. In any case, the greatness of God’s rewards in Heaven will certainly be of incredible magnitude and splendor and the best of these would be given to God’s servants who served Him faithfully on earth – the prophets, the pastors preachers and evangelists, and even to the least and youngest of His disciples who serve Him in varieties of ways. And amazingly, the Lord has also availed these great rewards to those who practice great hospitality and kindness to His servants.

Application:

Remember that when we welcome God’s servants, we welcome the Lord Himself. Endeavor to inculcate a spirit of hospitality, to welcome and bless others, especially those we know are full-time servants and those serve the Lord actively as they come across our paths. Show kindness especially to the younger ones who serve God, for such acts are especially favored by the Lord.

Prayer:

Praise thee, Heavenly Father for the glory of Thy name. May Your great name be praised over all the earth. Create in me a generous and pure heart O Lord, and a hospitable spirit. As opportunities arise, for me to be hospitable to men and women who serve You, teach me to serve You by serving them. In Jesus name, Amen.

Our cross

Our cross

Scripture:

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.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Observation:

In this passage, our Lord gives His disciples a stern warning on the importance of acknowledging Him before others. Whoever acknowledges Jesus before others, he or she will the Lord also acknowledge before God the Father in Heaven. Whoever does not acknowledge Jesus, he or she will the Lord disown before His Father in Heaven. Following Jesus is a serious matter indeed, and later the Jewish Christians would come under great pressure to renounce Christ from their fellow Jews, and shortly after, all Christians in the Roman empire would be under great pressure to do the same, on pain of death. Today, there are many Christians in oppressive regimes who likewise face this kind of great pressure, and they acknowledge Christ to their peril on earth, yet receive great reward in Heaven.

The Lord then goes on to explain how He has not come to bring peace, but a sword. The sword is representative of violent conflict, and because of the Gospel, many have found themselves outcast and made enemies by the members of their own household. The important point here is that the Lord must come first, no matter what the cost.

Finally, the Lord speaks of taking up our cross and following Him. What is our cross? It is our calling, our responsibility, our suffering that God has called of us. Each one’s cross is different. It is a cross known only between a man and God. Still, taking up our cross is not a solitary affair, done by the effort and strength of man. Instead, it is done by following Jesus. Jesus leads the way, giving us the wisdom and strength of the Holy Spirit, and our part is to follow. What is God’s will for our lives? We can’t see the big picture, but our part is to seek Christ, and follow as He leads us. Many chase after money, wealth and fame, but when they find it, they find it is meaningless. However, those who lose their lives to serve Jesus find they have found something infinitely more precious!

Application:

Remember that it is our duty to acknowledge Christ before men. We must heed Christ’s warning never to disown Him. Know that for some of us, there will be conflict in our family because of Christ. Yet thank Him that even in our weaknesses, He gives us the grace to overcome all things by His strength. Ask the Lord to show us our cross and to understand it increasingly as we serve Him. Seek to follow Jesus one day, one moment at a time. Thank Him that He has not left us alone.

Prayer:

Bless Thee, Lord God, for the greatness of Thy works. Your name is praised over all the earth, and Your faithfulness extends to the skies. Guard and protect me and my family I pray, Heavenly Father. Grant me the strength and the courage to stay true to You, should times of great testing come to me. Grant me Thy precious grace, Lord Jesus, in times where my faith causes conflict in the family. Show me my cross more and more O Lord, that I may understand what I need to do. Let my eyes always focus on You and follow You. I praise You that You never leave us alone. Praise Your holy name O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Told in the darkness, whispered in the ear

Told in the darkness, whispered in the ear

Scripture:

So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 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. 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. Matthew 10:26-31

Observation:

In this passage, we see the Lord firstly telling His disciples not to be afraid of those who will persecute them. Their persecutors could be powerful men with authority to torture and kill the disciples, but the Lord asks us to look beyond that, to value most of all the soul that man cannot destroy. He reminds us that it far more important to please God rather than men. Men may only have power and authority on earth, and only whilst they live. In the end, this whole earth will also pass away. God however is eternal, and He is the great judge who will judge all mankind.

The Lord then gives us an insight into how God reveals great secrets to us. It is in the darkness and with whispers. This gives us a picture of deep intimacy. It is in the quietness of the night or the early morning when we seek the Lord privately, that He reveals deep things to us. It is in such intimate, personal times that we really grow and glean deep truths from the Lord. And the blessing of such knowledge is not for us to keep to ourselves alone, but to declare it out loud, but to share it and encourage others, or lead others to the Lord.

In respect of darkness, another aspect is when we go through times of darkness or troubles. It is also in those times when we really seek the Lord and in such honesty, the Lord also reveals great truths and wisdom to us.

In the last portion of this passage, the Lord asks us to compare ourselves to sparrows that the Lord watches over and assures us that even the very hairs of our head are numbered. The Lord knows us in such great depth and detail. He really knows our inmost being.

Application:

Praise God that we do not have to be afraid, of any man or demon. Thank God that we are secure in Him, and have complete assurance of His protection and salvation.

Endeavor to seek the Lord in the darkness of the late evening or early morning. Expect to hear from the Lord, His precious words and teachings for us. Praise God that He is our true Creator, that He knows the number of hairs on our head and He cares for us.

Prayer:

Praise You, Heavenly Father, for You hold all things in Your hands. In You O Lord I put my trust. Let me never be put to shame. Give me strength and courage I pray. Let me not fear men, but seek to do Your will. Speak to me, precious Lord, in the darkness, in gentle whispers. Teach me Your wisdom. Teach me Your truth. Praise You, Lord, for Your great love. You know my inmost being O Lord. May Your name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

A student and a servant

A student and a servant

Scripture:

“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! Matthew 10:24-25

Observation:

In this passage, Jesus gives His disciples the imagery of their relationship as students and teacher, servants and master. Our Lord Jesus is both our Teacher and our Master. If we are students, are we learning from our Teacher? If we are servants, are we serving our Master?

In what ways do we learn? In church, we listen to the sermon. In Bible studies, we look at God’s Word in depth. In our personal devotions, we seek God to see what He may teach us. Learning more and more about our God and knowing Him has always been a fundamental part of being a Christian. We must not forget that we are students, and we must learn from our great Teacher. Learning itself can be a lifestyle, for the Holy Spirit whom Christ has given us, is able to teach us and help us grow at any given moment, even as we go about our daily activities. Our part is to be open and aware of His presence with us throughout the day and listen to what lessons He may wish to teach us.

In what ways do we serve? There are so many needs and so many ministries in the church, in cell groups and even in the marketplace. Our God of infinite variety may call us to serve Him in diverse ways and in the most unexpected places. Our part is to avail ourselves to Him and pray that He may lead us to the service that best suits us. God knows us better than we even know ourselves, so He naturally will know where we can best serve. Our part is to pray, and respond by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, as He brings service opportunities to us in the course of our daily activities.

Another aspect that Jesus warns His disciples, is that just as the Jews slandered Him and called Him Beelzebul, the prince of demons, so too, they would slander them. If our Lord was so persecuted, should we be surprised that we are persecuted too? Those who follow Jesus will experience not only His power but also His persecution.

Application:

Remember that we are students. What are we doing to learn more of the Lord and His Word? Pray for wisdom and opportunity to know God and His Word even deeper. Remember too that we are servants. Are we serving God? We may be busy or think we have no gifts, but those are not excuses. God will make opportunities for us to serve, if we only avail ourselves to Him in humility.

Remember that just as our Lord Jesus was persecuted, we too can be persecuted and should not be surprised.

Prayer:

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for loving us and saving us that we might be Your children. Help me remember O Lord, that I am saved to learn, and saved to serve as Your disciple. Give me great joy I pray, even as I seek to learn from You and serve You. Open doors of learning and serving for me.  Grant me more of Your Holy Spirit, that I may grow and learn more and more in You. May Your name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

Before the Son of Man comes

Before the Son of Man comes

Scripture:

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Israel

Observation:

In this passage, we see the Lord warning His disciples how their own brothers, fathers, and children would turn against them because of their faith in Him. This happened to the disciples then as Jews, but in many cultures throughout the world today, this happens frequently to Christians who have non-Christians for family members. Some have been thrown out of their houses and disowned, beaten up, and even killed, just as the Lord warned His disciples. In time to come, when the AntI-Christ rules on the earth during the three and a half years of tribulation, this will become even more severe still on a worldwide scale.

The Lord tells His disciples these things so that they will not be surprised. Foreknowledge plays a great deal in helping a person face trials when they occur. That is why the pre-tribulation post-tribulation divide is in fact a very important issue for Christians. If Christians expect the tribulation and are prepared, they have a far better chance of standing firm. However, if Christians do not or refuse to consider their presence in the tribulation because of their hope of being raptured before all the trouble started, the shock of disappointment would put them in a very poor position to stand firm.

In any case, when persecution did happen, the disciples were instructed to flee to other places and so on. It was in this manner that persecution actually helped spread the gospel in the past, as the disciples of Jesus fled to different towns and preached the gospel as they went. 

The last part of the passage has led to some confusion. Jesus told them “you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” Was this referring to Jesus’ second coming? If so, it could not be that the disciples of Jesus have not gone through all the towns of Israel when they have already successfully evangelized to the majority of the whole world. However, thinking on it from another perspective, would disciples of Jesus seeking to save the lost only come to a town one time and then never return again or would another disciple of Jesus refuse to go to a town that had been visited by another disciple before? The principle is, as long as there are many lost sheep in the town, disciples of Jesus will keep going there again and again, and that is what the Lord would want. Thus, from a prophetic perspective, it would mean that disciples of Jesus would keep preaching at those towns in Israel until the Lord returns again. In other words, Israel as a whole would still not receive Jesus as their Messiah until they actually saw Him arriving on the clouds in power and glory.

Application:

We need to remind ourselves that our Lord is first of all, and keeping our faith in Him could cost us even our dearest things, even our relationships with our beloved family members, even life itself. Still, it is those who have sacrificed the most for the Lord that have in fact the closest of relationships with Him. The Lord does not shortchange anyone. He is no man’s debtor. In regard to persecution, we need to be prepared, just as the Lord has warned us. If we are persecuted, there is no shame in flight. In fact, it is part of the Lord’s will. When Jesus Christ comes again, it will be His enemies who will take flight in absolute terror. 

In regard to evangelism, just as the Lord expects the Church to keep preaching to Israel until He returns, we too are expected to keep seeking out the lost until He returns. Ask the Lord to give us the heart and opportunities to lead others to Him.

Prayer:

We praise You O Lord that You hold the entire future in Your hands. Even in the midst of trouble and persecution, we know O Lord, You are in control, and You will lift up and save those who belong to You in due time. Should I be called to face such persecution, I pray to You O Lord for strength and courage. Let Your Spirit never leave me, but continue to guide and counsel me, even in the darkest of times. I entrust my life to You O Lord, and even that of my family. I place my complete trust in You.

Teach me to lead others to You I pray. Give me a heart for the lost, and the opportunities to help them. All opportunities come from You, O Lord, Forgive my apathy, give me a new heart to love others. May Your name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

You will be given what to say

You will be given what to say

Scripture:

Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 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 10:17-20

Observation:

Continuing His instruction to the disciples, Lord Jesus then warns them to be on guard for they will be handed over to local councils and beaten up in the synagogues. Because of their allegiance to Jesus, they will be brought before governors and kings and the Gentiles, referring to authorities such as the Romans who were not Jews. In expecting these things, Jesus warns them not to worry about what they are to say but to depend on the Holy Spirit to give them the courage to say the right words. The Holy Spirit here is referred to as the Spirit of your Father, and in other places, the Spirit of Jesus. As the Son only does what the Father is doing, and the Spirit only tells what He hears, it is the same Spirit who hears from the Father, or is sent by the Son. He is the Spirit of wisdom that continues to teach us what to say today even, for those who will look to Him for help. He is our Helper, our Counselor, our Teacher our Comforter and so much more. What numerous roles He plays in our lives.

Roman empire

In any case, as Christians, we need to be ready and not surprised if persecution happens to us. That is part of “standing on guard” as Jesus instructed. And no matter what happens, we need to remember that we are not alone for we have a God who will never leave us nor forsake us. His Spirit He will send to us to give us what to say at that time.

Application:

Meditate on the Holy Spirit, and His role of counseling, teaching and encouraging all who believe in Jesus. His activity in giving us what to say, is not only for times of persecution, but also extends to our daily lives and conversations with others. Our part is to have faith in believing that this is true, and so it will become real to us.

Regarding persecution, spend some solemn moments in reflection, to consider whether we would be ready to face such difficulties. Pray to God for courage and wisdom should we be appointed to face such trials. Be at peace in our hearts that the Lord will send His Spirit to help us even in such times.

Prayer:

Praise You, Father in Heaven, for giving us Your Holy Spirit, freely and generously to us, to help us, to counsel us, to guide us in our everyday lives. Give us the faith and the inclining ear to hear what the Spirit may say to us, and even to let Him speak through us at opportune times.

We pray too, O Lord, for wisdom and courage, even as we look to the future. Should we be appointed for persecution, Lord, we pray for Your presence to be with us through every trial. Let You Spirit dwell deeply in our hearts, giving us peace and strength. Praise You, Heavenly Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Sheeps and wolves, snakes and doves

Sheeps and wolves, snakes and doves

Scripture:

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16

Observation:

In this passage, the Lord likens His disciples to sheep being sent out among wolves. He then further asks them to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. The imagery of sheep gives us the picture of innocent, helpless animals, dependent on their shepherd for provision and protection. On their own, they will quickly perish. Our attitude needs to be like sheep, depending on our Lord Jesus as our Great Shepherd. We need Him to guide us, to provide for us, to protect us.

Wolves on the other hand are pictured as predators. They are independent, cunning and vicious, showing no mercy to their victims. They can pretend to be friendly or meek, but all of a sudden devour you, as the proverbial Gingerbread man found out in the popular fairy tale of old.  The image of sheep among wolves is a frightening one, but Jesus wants His disciples to be aware that there are evil men lying in wait to attack and devour His precious ones.

Then comes the interesting reference to snakes and doves. How can one be like a snake and a dove at the same time? How interesting! Firstly, we are told to be as shrewd or as wise as snakes. Snakes, although deadly and a bane to men, have a reputation of being intelligent and cunning, back to the days of the Garden of Eden, when the snake deceived Eve.

The Lord does not want to us to go about His service blindly and thoughtlessly, but we are to be wise and discerning. If we are not wise, we are to ask God for wisdom, who gives generously to all without finding fault, as stated in James 1.

As for doves, we are called to be as harmless or as innocent as doves. The wisdom that we have is not a violent, ruthless wisdom. We carry love and peace with us, qualities reminiscent of the dove, which also represents the Holy Spirit.                                

Application:

In thinking of sheep, remember that we need to depend on our Lord Jesus totally as our Shepherd for our daily provision, protection and guidance. In thinking of wolves, we need to be aware that there are evil people in the world, so we need to be on guard and not blindly trust others without thinking or discerning. In thinking of snakes, we are to remember to ask God for wisdom and discernment so that we can become wise and serve God with godly wisdom and discerning. In thinking of doves, remember the Holy Spirit, and the love, peace and gentleness He represents. Ask Him to change our heart to show those qualities more and more in our lives.

Prayer:

Bless thee Father in Heaven. We are like sheep, helpless and harassed on our own. We need thee, Lord Jesus as our Shepherd to lead us in life, to guide us, to protect us, to provide for us. In You only will we trust. Grant us more and more wisdom each day, Heavenly Father, to be wise and discerning in our daily lives, and especially in Your service. Even in this wisdom O Lord, teach us to be peaceful and gentle and loving, turning others to You with choice words and kind hearts. May Your name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

Going forth in faith

Going forth in faith

Scripture:

“Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their 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, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Sodom than for that town. Matthew 10:9-15

Observation:

The Lord continues to give instructions to His disciples for their missionary excursion. They are told to take nothing with them, no money, not even an extra shirt or sandals or staff. Imagine the level of faith required of the disciples. Would such an approach to missions be applicable in this day and age? In fact, some mission schools have actually included this practical experience as part of their curriculum and the students have come back with quite extraordinary stories of how the Lord opened doors for them and provided for them. In China, some new Christians came to a seasoned Christian leader and said they wanted to go out to be evangelists. He was amazed and pointed out that they had no resources, no back-up, no training, but they replied simply “but we have feet”. This method of evangelism is applicable today as it was 2000 years ago if we only have the faith. God has promised in His Word that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and that He will never let us be put to shame.

As the reason for not taking anything on their missionary journey, the Lord said “the worker is worth his keep” indicating that those ministered to should provide for the minister. This principle also applies to every church who must provide amply for the pastors who serve them and their children, for the worker is worth his keep.

In every town or village they entered, the disciples were to search for some worthy person and stay there. Now on being sent out, the disciples could have been worried that no one would receive them. However, the Lord confidently assured them that there would be people who would welcome them and let them stay in their houses. The lesson here is that the Lord has people everywhere, in every city, and if we set out to do the Lord’s work, He will lead us to like-minded people. When I first ventured forth the idea of having a Christian fellowship in my previous company, I wondered if I would get any support. To my surprise, my call spread, and a fair number turned up for the first meeting. I think the lesson is the same in the workplace. There are like-minded brothers and sisters nearby, whether in our workplace or a neighboring workplace.

Unfortunately for those who will not welcome the servants of God, there is judgment for them. This is a lesson for us to have a hospitable spirit, and do what we can to facilitate and help servants of God who may come by and need our help.

Application:

Just as God provided for the disciples who went forth without anything, He is able to provide for us today when we go forth to do His service. If He calls us, just go forth in faith, and He will provide the assistance. In regard to ministers and pastors or even special ministries that serve us, we are to help provide for them as the workers are worth their keep. When we are called by God to set out on a particular project or ministry, let us go forth in faith, trusting God to provide His people to help us along the way. The Lord has people in the least likely places. Develop a hospitable spirit, especially for the servants of God, seeking to provide for them where they are in need.

Prayer:

We praise You, Father in Heaven, for You are our great Provider. You give us all we need and You have promised that You will never let us be put to shame. Increase our faith we pray O Lord, even as we seek to follow You and serve You in new and diverse areas. Give us the faith and the strength we need even as we set out to do Your will. We thank You for the people You have prepared to help us along our journey. Bless them and strengthen we pray O Lord, and let our meetings be timely according to Your will. Create in us a hospitable and generous heart O Lord, especially to Your servants. May Your name be praised O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Freely you have received, freely give

Freely you have received, freely give

Scripture:

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Israel As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Observation: Matthew 10:5-8

Observation:

The twelve have been appointed, and now the Lord sends them out with specific instructions. Firstly, they are to go only to the lost sheep of Israel. There would be a time later during the missionary journeys of Paul when the gospel would be brought specially to the Gentiles. However, just as Israel was called out first to be God’s light to the Gentiles, now they too are privileged to receive the good news of salvation first, before the Gentiles.

As the disciples went, they were to proclaim the message “the kingdom of heaven has come near”. What is the significance of this message? In other parts of Scripture, Jesus preaches “repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near”. In today’s terms, it would be like telling people on the street, “repent, judgment day is coming soon”. It was like a wake up call for the Jews to stop doing evil things, but focus on being right with God. The message today for us is the same. We might be indulging in sinful activities, or pursuing basically a selfish life without thought for God. The call is for us, stop, get back to God, get right with the Lord, seek Him and seek to follow His ways. His coming is near.

Then, Jesus gave the disciples four specific tasks as they proclaimed the message – healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing those with leprosy and driving out demons. Today, with medical advance, leprosy is no longer an incurable disease. However, in those day, leprosy was the most terrible of diseases. Lepers would lose their nerves and become terribly disfigured, and because leprosy was contagious, they were forced to live as outcasts away from the community and shout “unclean, unclean” wherever they went. To receive healing from leprosy was such a great and wonderful thing, it would have been almost as high profile as the raising of the dead. That was probably why Jesus classified the cleansing of leprosy separately from healing of the sick. In today’s church, especially in Pentecostal congregations, the ministries of healing of the sick and driving out of demons are powerful and active. However, instances of raising of the dead, are much less frequent, although cases are heard of this happening in different countries, especially the less developed nations. In one case in Africa, a pastor prayed for 3 days over a corpse before the lady came back to life. For those with great faith, anything is possible, and the raising of the dead is something we have been given authority to do in Jesus name.

The Lord then says “Freely you have received, freely give”. Just as the power to heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead have been freely given to the disciples, they are to administer this power freely, without condition or expectation of reward. Ministry is to be given freely, and the practice is the same today where ministers of God freely pray for the sick and cast out demons. The term “freely” also implies that ministry is to be given generously to all, regardless of race, religion, gender, status or occupation.

Application:

Meditate on the words “the kingdom of Heaven is near”. What is the implication for me personally? Resolve to set your heart right with the Lord today, seeking to turn away from evil and know and serve Jesus as His humble servant and disciple. Praise the Lord that He has given us authority to heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead. Pray for wisdom and faith on when to use this authority at the right time according to God’s will. Remember that whatever ministry in which we serve the Lord, we are to serve freely, just as we have freely received. Ask the Lord to help us give freely and generously in His service.

Prayer:

We praise You, O Lord, Father in Heaven, for You hold all time in Your hands. Even now, You move history along, as the time of Jesus’ second coming draws near. I entrust my heart to You this day, O Lord. Forgive my sins, set my heart to do what is right and true in Your eyes. I thank You, Lord, for the authority You have given me to heal the sick, to cast out demons and to raise the dead. Grant me Your wisdom and timing to know the right time and place to exercise this authority when I am called upon. Let my heart be free before You, that I might trust completely in You and give freely in Your service. May Your name be praised O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen