Matthew 10:34-42 Christ Brings Division
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
A Cup of Cold Water
“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Although many families today have become fragmented, there are still cultures in which the family is just as important as it was in the time of Jesus. In Jesus’ time, fathers had complete authority over their children, particularly their daughters, and a father’s word was law. Sons generally worked with their fathers and under their fathers’ authority, and it was fathers who arranged marriages with little or no consultation as to their children’s wishes. Sons who married would add rooms to their fathers’ households called bridal chambers where they and their wives would live. When the bridal chamber was complete, the father would select the day for the marriage and people would be notified by a trumpet call and a shout.
In Ghana, as in most other African countries, many families live together in compounds. Any friction between a mother and her daughter or a mother-in-law can make life difficult if not almost unbearable. The same thing can be said for friction between sons and fathers. Now Jesus is promising that those who follow him will find members of their own households to be their worst enemies. Why?
Conscientious parents are committed to maintaining family stability. Anytime a family member shows up with a new religion, particularly something that threatens the status quo, parents will immediately be questioning and probably rejecting these ideas. The longer the family member tries to share his/her new faith, the more resistance the other family members will exhibit, until a believer may find himself/herself completely rejected and disowned by the family.
In many Muslim cultures, accepting Jesus results in death for the believer, and sometimes for the rest of the family. Recently in Afghanistan, a believer came to a small village and witnessed. When many people accepted Christ, the Taliban got wind of this and massacred all but one member of the community who somehow escaped. Now this believer is being trained to go on to witness to other village. (Information from Christian radio September 4, 2024.)
“He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” The question is this: how many of us are willing to lay down our lives for our faith? And if we are not willing, how committed are we? When we allow Jesus to control our lives, we might encounter opposition, ridicule, or even death. But we will have gained eternal life, trading a few short years here on earth for eternity with the One who loves us most.
“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
What can be more refreshing than a cup of cold water on a hot day? Thirty years ago, we had only a small LP gas refrigerator in our village home because there was not electricity. Friends would come and beg for small cups of cold water. When the village got electricity and we returned to visit, everybody wanted to give us cold Coca Cola to show that they now had refrigerators. We must have drunk 10 bottles of Coke that first day!
The wonderful part of these promises is that even if our own families and friends disown us, there will always be people who will receive us, helping us, feeding us, giving us places to stay, refreshing us just as a cup of cold water refreshes on a hot dusty day.
Through the years, so many people have sheltered us, fed us, and transported us. Then there are those who have lent us vehicles or clothing, or who have allowed us to use their internet. These people have acted out of love; yet, Jesus assures us that all those who have helped any Christian at any time will receive a prophet’s reward.
On of the fundamental laws of the Kingdom of God is “the measure you give out is the measure you will receive.” When we are willing to lay down our lives for our faith in Jesus Christ, he is free to use us in any way he chooses. Several years ago, when I was going through some difficulties, I wrote this song. The words are still relevant and this will be our prayer for today.
PRAYER: Don’t Let Me Crawl Off the Altar
Jesus, I’ve followed You so long,
By now I should look like You.
But when I examine my innermost thoughts,
There’s nothing to remind me of You.
So Lord, please come, let the fire fall
As I wait on the altar just now;
For Lord, if you do not help me,
I’ll shrink back and abandon my vow.
So don’t let me crawl off the altar.
Don’t take conviction away.
Don’t let me fail or falter,
But let Your Fire burn where it may!
Let Your Fire consume all my weakness,
All my passion and pride, all my dross,
And fill me with Your holy meekness
So that then I may take up my cross,
So that then I may take up my cross
So that then I may take up my cross,
So that then I may carry the cross.
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