The Service of Christian Workers
December 17, 2020
Commentary
If you tell others about me, I will tell others that you belong to me, but if you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you don’t belong to me (vv. 32-33). Once we have identified our self with Jesus Christ, we are part of a war that started between God and Satan back in Genesis 3:15. The only way a believer can escape conflict is to deny Christ and compromise his witness (vv. 34-37). We will be misunderstood and persecuted and sometimes this may even be by those who are closest to us. However, it is important that we suffer for righteousness’ sake and not because we are just difficult to live with. There is a difference between the “offense of the cross” (Gal. 5:11) and an offensive Christian.
To “carry the cross” (v. 38) does not mean to wear a pin on our lapel but instead it means to confess Christ and obey Him despite any shame or suffering we might encounter. If we are just looking out for ourselves, we will be losers but if we die to self and live for Christ, we will be winners (v. 39). If we support a person who is serving the Lord, we will share in his reward. He says that even the smallest service done to the most insignificant of Christ’s servants will be rewarded by the Lord Himself (vv. 40-42)
Application
How many fulltime Christians workers have I shown a personal interest in by praying and helping in a tangible way? Is there more that I could or should be doing? Why not share my thoughts and ideas with friends and co-workers on a consistent basis.
Matthew 10:32– 42 (NET)
32 “Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword! 35 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, 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.
37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it.
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will never lose his reward.”