READ: Matthew
10
In verse 8 of this chapter we find these words, “You
received without paying; give without pay.” Some
have taken this to mean missionaries should not get paid. That’s a wrong
understanding of this little sentence. This is actually telling the disciples,
and us, that we are not allowed to withhold the gospel, or any part of it, because
we haven’t received pay. It also applies to forgiveness. Jesus forgave us
without any payment on our part, therefore we should not expect payment when we’re
asked to forgive others.
This may seem easy to brush off because many of us A) don’t
share the gospel often, and B) when we do, we don’t charge a fee. However,
there are other ways we withhold the fullness of the gospel. Sometimes
(although we might not want to admit this out loud) we actually don’t want
someone else to be forgiven as easily as we were. We’d like to see them suffer…
at least a little. People who have hurt us or who seem to fall into a category
of ‘bigger-sinners-than-I-am’ should have to do something to prove they really mean it. Yet Jesus’ command to
give without pay means just that: without financial payment, emotional payment…
or any payment at all except Christ’s alone.
Matthew spends much of the remainder of this chapter talking
about persecution and suffering for Christ. Jesus says that they will be like
sheep among wolves. He is warning and equipping us. The last decades in our culture
have caused us to forget this. We’ve developed a trust of the world. We expect
good behavior, integrity, honesty, and acceptance of our faith. We’ve forgotten
that the world can be a dangerous place for those who love God. Now we are shocked
when ‘bad’ things happen and when our faith is ridiculed, sidelined, and
criminalized in the news. But we shouldn’t be! Jesus told us we’d feel like we
were living among wolves. And the western world hasn’t even begun to see how
ferocious the wolves can get!
As we read this we could be filled with fear, panic, and
sheer terror. Nobody wants persecution or tribulation or pain. However, Jesus
doesn’t just tell us things will be hard. That would be terrible! He also gives
us purpose, a plan and a promise.
Verse 18 says the purpose of persecution is so that we
can bear witness. It’s like persecution will squeeze the glory of God out of us
through testimony and through the very strength we receive from Him to live
through it. The plan He gave us is powerful. It can be summed up in one word -
endure. Plan for it. Don’t wonder if you’ll make it… plan on making it! Put
things in place to keep you from giving up and that will encourage you to keep
going! Finally, Jesus gave us a promise that the Father will speak
through us when we are called to speak up for our faith. He has promised to be
with us to the end of the age – not just until things get rough. And not only
will He be there, He’ll also be speaking to us and putting His very words in
our mouths.
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1.
Is there someone you secretly would like to see ‘pay’ for their
salvation or forgiveness? Ask the Lord to speak to you about whether or not you
have withheld forgiveness (or the message of the gospel) from someone until you
think they are really ready, or really deserve it. Ask Him to forgive you if
you’ve done this. Ask Him to fill your heart with true love for this person.
Ask Him to give you a more clear understanding of how free your salvation is.
2.
How have you planned to endure to the end? What strategies and
boundaries have you put in place in your life in order to ensure you don’t give
up before you reach heaven? Ask the Lord to speak to you about how much He
wants you to endure and the prize that will be waiting for you. Ask Him what
you need to do today to be prepared for the hard days ahead.
3.
Many of us are filled with fear when we think about persecution. Ask the
Lord to speak to you the truth of His promises. Ask Him to give you a word,
thought, or picture about His promise to put words in your mouth when you are
called on. Ask Him to fill you with supernatural peace and trust in the truth
that He will help you through every single moment.
