Publishing His glorious deeds! —Psalm 96:3
What is the most important thing we can know, believe, and live for? Does such a thing exist? If it does, it would be a tragedy to miss it! Paul states that he gave the Corinthians what was most important — what could that be?
In 1 Corinthians 15:3, Paul notes that he passed on to the Corinthians what was most important: the gospel! How that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day, all according to the Scriptures. Paul said a lot to the Corinthians, and this was the most important. Why is Paul reminding them of this?
Continue reading “The Greatest News of All!”Today’s reading from Matthew chapter 10 highlights the world’s response, and even the religious, to Jesus and His followers. Jesus has been going about doing only good: preaching, healing, casting out demons, and raising the dead. What could be wrong with that? A lot! The pressure is starting to build to shut down Jesus. So, Jesus instructs his disciples to do what He has been doing. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! (Matthew 10:7–8, NLT)
As Jesus sends out His disciples, he warns that households and whole towns will refuse them. They are sheep being sent out among wolves. They will be handed over to courts, tried, and beaten—even put to death. They will be betrayed. All the nations will hate them. They will be threatened and accused of doing the devil’s work. To sum it up, Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34, ESV)
What we see here is that all of the world lies under the influence of the wicked one, Satan. What Jesus and His disciples were doing—which was doing only good—was an attack on the kingdom of darkness. What you and I do, living right in a very wrong world, loving others, preaching the good news in both our words and deeds, is a declaration of war against the god of this world. This is why Christians who go about doing good are persecuted. To Satan, there is a lot wrong with doing good in his world!
As believers, let us not fear those who seek to persecute us, for they cannot touch our souls (Matthew 10:28). Let us be encouraged that those who acknowledge Jesus on earth, Jesus will one day acknowledge before the Father in Heaven (Matthew 10:32–33). Let us rejoice that we are no longer in darkness but have passed from death to life and that we have this victory, even the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57–58)!
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Matthew 9-10.