Lessons From Matthew 10: Persecution

Jesus explains the costs and comforts of being His worker

Jesus told His disciples, in Matthew 10:24-42, that there is a cost to following Him. But the comfort of eternal life far outweighs it.

Look at verses 24-25. The disciples were not above their teacher Jesus Christ and neither are we. So if He was falsely accused of doing and being evil, we too can expect the same treatment. But when we stand firm, Jesus promised that His children will one day be vindicated. Twice He says, “Do not be afraid of them.” Rather be more afraid of not doing as you are instructed by Him.

In verse 29 Jesus said that if He is aware of everything that happens to a sparrow, and you are more valuable to Him than the sparrows, you have no need to fear personal threats or difficult trials or even death. These things cannot shake God’s love for you or dislodge His Spirit from your soul.

But it also means that God will not always take your troubles away. Sometimes it is our very troubles that prune us and shape us into the people God desires us to be. And since He knows and accounts for every hair on our head, we need not fear or become discouraged.

For the real test of value is how well something holds up under the wear and tear and abuse of everyday life.

How are you holding up?

Those who stand up for Christ in spite of their troubles truly have lasting value and will receive great rewards.

In verse 32, Jesus stated that whoever acknowledges Him will be acknowledged by Him before His Father in heaven. But those who disown him, He too will disown before His Father in heaven.

Jesus also told them, and us, in verse 34 that He did not come to bring the kind of peace that glosses over deep differences just for the sake of harmony. Conflict and disagreement will arise between those who choose to follow Christ and those who don’t. Yet we can look forward to the day when all conflict will be resolved.

We have a responsibility to uncover Christ to the world. But in doing so we may be separated from those we love. Christ’s presence in our lives demands a decision and because some will not follow Christ, conflict will be inevitable.

Persecution

Persecution because of Christ is inevitable.

As we take up our cross and follow Him, our different values, morals, goals, and purposes will set us apart from others. Don’t neglect your family, but remember that your commitment to God is even more important than they are. God should always take first priority in our lives.

Taking up our cross means to be identified with Christ publicly and privately. It means experiencing almost certain opposition and being committed to facing even suffering and death for His sake. But when we cling to this life more than clinging to Christ we may forfeit the best from Christ in this world and in the next.

The more we love this life’s rewards (leisure, power, popularity, financial security), the more we will discover how empty they really are. The best way to enjoy life is to loosen our greedy grip on earthly rewards so we can be free to follow Christ.

In doing so, we will find that we inherit eternal life and begin at once to experience the benefits of following Christ.

Verse 42 reveals how much we love God, for it can be measured by how well we treat others. Jesus’s example of giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty child is a good model for us of unselfish service. A child usually can’t or won’t return a favor. God notices every good deed we do, or don’t do, as if He were the one receiving it.

Is there something unselfish you can do for someone this week? Will you do it even though no one else may see you?

God will notice and He will reward you. Maybe not now or even in this lifetime, but great will be your reward in heaven one day!

Terri Hamman

Faith & Fitness Coach