Whoever Welcomes You Welcomes Me - Matthew 10:40-42
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Reflection: Chapter 10 of Matthew has brought us quite a bit of foreshadowing what the life of a disciple of Christ will look like and even the suffering and persecution that will come upon the believer who wants to imitate the life of Christ. Quite sobering words for someone who might think Jesus came just so that I could be prosperous in this life. And so Jesus ends the chapter reminding us who would represent him by way of being his disciples, that we are his ambassadors. An ambassador represents someone, and we who would call ourselves Christ-ians (literally "little Christ's") are Jesus' ambassadors.
Jesus underscores this today when he says that anyone who provides you with hospitality or a cold drink of water is effect is welcoming me. This is quite dignifying for his little ones, his disciples. Little ones refers to children and is a reference to the childlike quality of faith and trust that the disciples must now exhibit as they follow him. An ambassador is also sent to bring the good will of the sender to the people the sender wants to have relationship with. Jesus' apostles, and by implication us, will be those who will be sent ala the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19-20)
So what does this mean for us today? Chapter 10 has shown us that following Christ is a whole life proposition, as we die to ourselves and pick Jesus' cross and follow him. We are gathered with other Christ followers in a place we call the Church (church is the Greek word, ekkleisa=gathered or assembled ones), and then sent out to be Christ's ambassadors. Whoever welcomes us will be a person of peace that God has also called to be part of the mission, if event in small hospitable acts. This reminds us that Jesus is with us as we carry out the Great Commission. We will meet people along the way who will seem like angels sent by God to provide for our needs.
As I began my journey to become a pastor and moved out to California to go to seminary, I knew nobody. At each step of the way God provided people of hospitality and friends to help me. It was a great affirmation of His call on my life a reminder that He was with me every step of the way. And still today God provides people who make the journey a joy and adventure. Where is God calling you to be ambassador or Christ? Keep an eye open for those people of peace who will provide hospitality for you. As they welcome you, they are welcoming Christ!
Jesus thank you for your provision for us at each step of our journey. As we seek to be your ambassador we are blessed with many who when they welcome us they welcome you, Amen.
Reflection: Chapter 10 of Matthew has brought us quite a bit of foreshadowing what the life of a disciple of Christ will look like and even the suffering and persecution that will come upon the believer who wants to imitate the life of Christ. Quite sobering words for someone who might think Jesus came just so that I could be prosperous in this life. And so Jesus ends the chapter reminding us who would represent him by way of being his disciples, that we are his ambassadors. An ambassador represents someone, and we who would call ourselves Christ-ians (literally "little Christ's") are Jesus' ambassadors.
Jesus underscores this today when he says that anyone who provides you with hospitality or a cold drink of water is effect is welcoming me. This is quite dignifying for his little ones, his disciples. Little ones refers to children and is a reference to the childlike quality of faith and trust that the disciples must now exhibit as they follow him. An ambassador is also sent to bring the good will of the sender to the people the sender wants to have relationship with. Jesus' apostles, and by implication us, will be those who will be sent ala the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19-20)
So what does this mean for us today? Chapter 10 has shown us that following Christ is a whole life proposition, as we die to ourselves and pick Jesus' cross and follow him. We are gathered with other Christ followers in a place we call the Church (church is the Greek word, ekkleisa=gathered or assembled ones), and then sent out to be Christ's ambassadors. Whoever welcomes us will be a person of peace that God has also called to be part of the mission, if event in small hospitable acts. This reminds us that Jesus is with us as we carry out the Great Commission. We will meet people along the way who will seem like angels sent by God to provide for our needs.
As I began my journey to become a pastor and moved out to California to go to seminary, I knew nobody. At each step of the way God provided people of hospitality and friends to help me. It was a great affirmation of His call on my life a reminder that He was with me every step of the way. And still today God provides people who make the journey a joy and adventure. Where is God calling you to be ambassador or Christ? Keep an eye open for those people of peace who will provide hospitality for you. As they welcome you, they are welcoming Christ!
Jesus thank you for your provision for us at each step of our journey. As we seek to be your ambassador we are blessed with many who when they welcome us they welcome you, Amen.
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