PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 10:21-25
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“It is enough for students to be like their teachers.” (Matthew 10:25)
As a Jesus follower, Jesus is my teacher and I am his student.
What the teacher says, what the teacher does, this is what I want to learn and do.
I want to be like Jesus my teacher, but I do not want to be betrayed or put to death.
As I am studying what Jesus said and did, I am learning more about this struggle.
Jesus said and did some pretty extreme things, things that would provoke others.
If I really did what he said and did, those close to me might be upset with me.
If I did what he said and did, I would get in trouble with my religious authorities.
If I loved like Jesus, forgave like Jesus, sacrificed like Jesus…
I do NOT want the negative results of following Jesus – he didn’t want them either.
But his commitment to loving God and loving people mattered most to him.
This is enough for me too, to learn to love God and people like Jesus did.
As a slow learner, I have a long way to go to being and loving like Jesus.
But my gracious loving teacher is patiently working with me, step by stubborn step.
He stands firm with me to the end, helping me to stand firm with him to the end!
PRAYER
Lord, I am a stubborn but determined student. Thank you for patiently working with me, helping me to learn and grow to be more like you. This is enough for me!
“You will be hated” – because of Jesus. Not sure if I’ve ever been hated for loving Jesus – maybe more like looked down on – ridiculed for believing in that Jesus stuff! I don’t want to be hated and I don’t want people to hate Jesus – yet I must be prepared for that to happen. I must be faithful but at the same time not to make the name of Jesus or my belief in Jesus to be obnoxious to others – rather I want people to consider Jesus and discover him as real. Help me Lord to cast seeds and find fertile soil of people wanting to know about you – even get through those who mock and curse you. Lord help me to be a faithful and bold messenger of your grace!
To be a follower of Jesus like the disciples were is to become like Him. To do what He did. To be like Christ unto others. This means to be separate from the world. To stand up for Jesus standing on His promises. And this is only a possibility when being lead by His Spirit working in me and through me. Help me daily Lord to be an instrument of Your peace.
1 Standing on the promises of Christ, my King,
Through eternal ages let his praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Refrain:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God, my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
2 Standing on the promises that cannot fail.
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]
3 Standing on the promises of Christ, the Lord,
Bound to him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]
4 Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List’ning ev’ry moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]