Wednesday, May 16,
2012, 6:56 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with the song “Do Your Best” - http://youtu.be/ZDijxGceCLE. The song is based off 2
Timothy 2: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%202&version=NIV1984.
2 Timothy 2 actually parallels today’s passage in Matthew 10 in many respects. I will quote selected verses from the
New International Version of the Bible (1984), Matthew 10:
He called his
twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and
to heal every disease and sickness…
These twelve
Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “... As you go,
preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the
dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have
received, freely give…
“If anyone
will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when
you leave that home or town... I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.
Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
“Be on your
guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you
in their 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…
“All men will
hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When
you are persecuted in one place, flee to another…
“A student is
not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the
student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of
the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his
household!
“So do not be
afraid of them. 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 apart from the
will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So
don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
“Whoever
acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in
heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him 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… a man’s enemies will be the members of his own
household.’
“Anyone who
loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves
his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not
take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will
lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it… http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010&version=NIV1984
My Understanding: A disciple of Christ is a follower of Christ. He
had many, yet he chose twelve to follow him physically in ministry, to go where
he went, and to do the work of the ministry to which he had called them. He
taught them, trained them, set the example before them, counseled, nurtured,
loved and cared for them. They followed him, learned from his teaching and
example, and loved him, too. Right before he left the earth to go back to
heaven, he commanded his disciples to make disciples (of Christ) of all nations,
baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that Jesus Christ had commanded.
So, a disciple is one who spends time with Jesus, who goes where he goes, who
listens to him teach, and who obeys his commands. A disciple is a student, a
trainee, a servant and a coworker for Christ.
Although some of Jesus’
instructions here were clearly specific to those twelve, much of Jesus’
instructions here also apply to us today. Those are the instructions we will learn
about today. When we come to faith in Jesus Christ we, too, become followers
and disciples of Jesus Christ. I pray, Lord, that you teach me what you want me
to learn today. Amen.
The Commission
First of all, their authority to do
what they did came from Jesus Christ. He has given us that same authority. We,
as followers of Christ, have Jesus, in the person of the Holy Spirit, living
within us, so we have the Word dwelling within our hearts and lives teaching us
all things; guiding, directing, and counseling, etc., just like Jesus did with
his disciples when he lived and walked on the earth. So, we have the authority
of his Holy Spirit within us speaking to and through us, and we have the
authority of the written word of God by which we teach and proclaim the gospel
of Jesus Christ. We do not speak with words of worldly wisdom, but we speak with
words of wisdom gained from time spent at Jesus’ feet.
Jesus commanded them to go, and
then he gave them the message they were to preach: “The kingdom of heaven is
near.” John the Baptist preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Jesus began his ministry with the same message as that of John the Baptist. So,
one could conclude that “Repent” was a given or was understood to be included.
The gospel message itself requires repentance (turning from sin) and turning to
walk in faithful obedience to Jesus Christ, so they would have known that in
preaching the gospel that repentance and forgiveness of sins was required for
entry into the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven began with Jesus Christ’s
earthly ministry, includes all that he was and is, why he came, the plan of
salvation, the promise of eternity, and will culminate in Jesus Christ’s return
to judge, to gather his elect, and to rule and reign.
Jesus also told them that they were
to “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive
out demons.” They were to give as they had been given.
When I gave prayerful thought to
this command, the Lord gave me another understanding of it besides just the
obvious. The Bible lists the various spiritual gifts, and healing as “gifts of
healing” (see 1 Co. 12). Just as there are various needs of healing (physical,
emotional, spiritual), there are also varied ways in which we can receive
healing. We may have a physical impairment, and yet our greater need is to be
healed spiritually or emotionally, because God intends to use that impairment
(weakness) for his purposes and glory in our lives and through our lives
(example: Joni Eareckson Tada). We can heal with a kind word, a hug, a word of
encouragement, a meal, a scripture, a labor of love, etc. We are to show love and
compassion for people just like Jesus did. People can be spiritually or
emotionally dead, and by giving them the gospel and/or by giving them words of
counsel from God’s holy word, we can “raise the dead” emotionally or
spiritually. We, as well, can drive out demons by preaching the truth of the
gospel, by teaching the truth of God’s word, and by exposing lies and bringing
people to the knowledge of the truth. We can also do this through acts of love
and kindness. In other words, we are to be Jesus to the world around us.
The Persecution
Jesus did not paint a rosy picture
for his disciples of what it would be like to be one of Christ’s followers.
They would suffer in all (or most all) the ways he suffered. Yet, through
suffering they would be humbled, learn obedience, learn to die to self and to
give to others, sympathize and be compassionate toward others who are
suffering, and learn right ways of responding to injustice, persecution and
suffering. They would grow closer to Christ through suffering, would be made
holy, would learn perseverance and determination, and would become more
passionate for Christ and for his gospel had they not gone through suffering.
Jesus did not tell them that
everyone would jump for joy at the message of the gospel. Many people like the
false gospel-lite and the broad road to heaven, but they don’t like it when you
preach the truth of the gospel and the narrow path to heaven. The true gospel
confronts sin in sinful man, calls it what it is, and calls for repentance and
obedience (faith requirements). Some or many would reject the message of the
gospel. If the message was rejected, Jesus said they were to brush the dust off
their feet and go someplace else. Jesus said he was sending them out like “sheep
among wolves.” They were to be discerning and not easily persuaded away from
the truth of the gospel, but were to be bold in their witness for Christ, yet
they were also to be innocent of evil and gentle and loving in all ways.
They were not to be surprised when
they were persecuted for the sake of the gospel, but they were to expect it and
to prepare for it mentally, emotionally and spiritually. They were not to worry
ahead of time about what might happen or what they would do in any eventuality,
but they were to know that persecution is a given, and that they should trust
the Lord to give them all they need to endure it and to respond correctly to
it. I am still learning this. They
would be persecuted not only by the world and government, but they would be
persecuted, too, in the synagogues. I think when the world persecutes us we can
handle it so much better than when we are mistreated by our own, either in the
church or by members of our own family. Yet, Jesus told them they would be
treated like he was treated, and it was his own people and even some of his own
family members who were his greatest opponents. We will be hated even by our
own family members because of our stand for Christ and our testimony for him
and his gospel message. We may even be called “of Satan,” just like Jesus was
accused.
Protection and Affection
Yet, we are not to be afraid of men
(or women) and what they can do to us. We are to make sure we are walking in
obedience to Jesus Christ, that we are teaching the truth of his word and of
his gospel, that we are standing strong in our faith and on our testimony for
Christ, and that we do not back down, hide our faith, shrink back, give up,
and/or deny Christ or refuse to acknowledge him before men. If we acknowledge (confess;
honor) Christ before men, he will acknowledge us before his Father in heaven,
but if we disown him by our words, actions, and attitudes (collectively), he
will disown us. Rather than fear man and what he might do to us, we should honor,
value, esteem, respect, revere and love Almighty God so much that we would
never want to dishonor him before men. Our love for Christ must always exceed
our love for mankind. And, we should always choose him first.
Jesus said we are not to be afraid
of man, but we are to tell them whatever he tells us to tell them, and in the
manner in which he guides us to tell them (by his example). He will not leave
us or forsake us. He will protect us emotionally, spiritually and perhaps even
physically. He will fill us with his peace, joy, assurances, encouragement,
hope, and counsel because he loves us and because he cares about even the minutest
details of our lives.
Yet, we are still human beings.
Even though Christ has called us to be his disciples, and he has promised to be
with us and to give us all that we need, when we are persecuted, hated,
rejected, abandoned, betrayed, mocked, misunderstood, and mistreated for the
sake of the gospel, especially by those within the church and in our own
families, it hurts. We still bleed just like everyone else. We don’t become
emotionless zombies or even uncaring or unsympathetic toward others just
because we are called to preach the gospel in all its truth. We know the truth
hurts, and we don’t like hurting others anymore than anyone else does. We are
not to be categorized as choleric or autocratic just because we must speak what
Jesus commands us to speak. Some of us do it with great fear and trembling.
And, we do care whether or not we hurt others or we are hurt in the process,
too. Yet, the acceptance or rejection of others cannot be the determining
factor in our decision to obey or not obey Christ; in whether to share the
gospel or to hide it under a bushel. We must obey Christ, and we must trust the
Lord to heal all wounds, including our own.
Broken and Contrite
/ An Original Work / May 13, 2012
I come before You,
Lord, my Savior,
With humble heart and
crushed in spirit.
I bow before You, I
implore You,
Heal my broken heart,
I pray.
Love You, Jesus, Lord,
my master,
You are the King of my
heart.
Lord, purify my heart
within me;
Sanctify me, whole
within.
I come before You,
Lord, my Savior,
With humble heart and
crushed in spirit.
I bow before You, I
implore You,
Heal my broken heart,
I pray.
Oh, Lord, I long to
obey fully
The words You’ve spoken
through Your Spirit.
I pray You give me
grace and mercy,
Strength and wisdom to
obey.
Father God, my heart’s
desire,
Won’t You set my heart
on fire?
Lord, cleanse my heart
of all that hinders
My walk with You, now
I pray.
Oh, Lord, I long to
obey fully
The words You’ve
spoken through Your Spirit.
I pray You give me
grace and mercy,
Strength and wisdom to
obey.
Oh, Jesus, Savior,
full of mercy,
My heart cries out for
understanding.
I want to follow You
in all ways,
Never straying from
Your truth.
Holy Spirit, come in
power,
Fill me with Your love
today.
Lord, mold and make
me;
Your hands formed me;
Live Your life through
me, I pray.
Oh, Jesus, Savior,
full of mercy,
My heart cries out for
understanding.
I want to follow You
in all ways,
Never straying from
Your truth.
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