Scripture
Matthew 10:12-13, 17, 42
12 As you enter the house, give it your greeting. 13 If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.
17 But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues;
42 And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.
Observation
Jesus told his disciples to expect persecution and suffering on the journey. He told them not to be surprised when it happens–after all, Jesus himself suffered the same things! He told them to ‘beware of men’, and to expect trouble.
But the point of all this, was not to cause them to become hard and uncaring toward the society which would mistreat and abuse them–rather, Jesus called them to a deeper level of caring for broken humanity. He told them to move on down the road when their message was rejected…but he reminded them that their calling was not merely the pursuit of self-preservation: Their calling was to offer a glass of living water to those who were thirsty.
Though trouble would come, Jesus challenged them to keep their sights higher than the suffering–and choose to love broken people anyway.
Application
Suffering causes a reaction. When I stub my toe, I don’t feel like speaking kindly to the person who left a chair in my path. When I’m mistreated and falsely accused, I don’t feel like being compassionate to those responsible. But if I’m not careful, I can begin to take out my hurt and frustration on those who didn’t cause my pain!
The challenge of Kingdom living, is maintaining a Christ-honoring love for the world…even as the world does its best to discourage and wound me.
Today I need to refocus my heart on the mission: Trouble is going to come–but the reward is worth the suffering!
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me even when I’ve grieved your heart! Help me to have that kind of love for the world–not to stay in places of unnecessary suffering, but rather to keep on moving forward in the mission even when I’ve been wounded. Help me to see those who are ready to receive a glass of living water this week!
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