Matthew 10:24-42

Matthew 10:24-42 

24 "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If thehead of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! 26 "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from theroofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- 36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' 37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Devotional (by John Goebel)

Jesus' words here are definitely challenging.  He doesn't skip softly around the issue but goes right to the heart of it.  Are you going to follow Jesus 100%, putting him 1st above all things or not?  His words can be confusing if we try to hold onto something such as "oh he doesn't mean my family".  Umm yes he does.  He isn't going to take them away because ironically if we give up control and put him first he will make our family relationships better!  Yes the fear of losing control will always somewhat lurk in the darkness.  But the opposite of fear is trust.  Trust in Jesus (he tells us 3 times in this passage "don't be afraid") and he promises as thepassage notes good results - receive a reward, know that God values you above all things, find the true meaning of your life.  That is why I like to refer to God as Lord when praying. (The definition of lord is a person who has authority, control, or power over others.) I want Jesus to be my Lord.

Prayer
Lord God forgive my controlling attitude and actions. Allow your Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts and actions today to release control to you.  Increase my faith - believing in your Word, acting upon it no matter how I feel because you promise good results.  When fear tries to sneak up, remind me that I have the shield of trust in you to ward it off.