Wednesday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 10
16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. 17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. 18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.
16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. 17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. 18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
10:16 sheep in the midst of wolves. Jesus warns the disciples about the persecution that missionary disciples will endure. wise as serpents and innocent as doves. The serpent was the symbol of shrewdness and intellectual cunning (Gen. 3:1; Ps. 58:4–5), while the dove was emblematic of simple innocence (Hos. 7:11).
10:17 Synagogues were not only places of worship but also places where discipline was carried out (flog).
10:18 to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. As Jesus foretold, the early church leaders would be called before Jewish officials (Acts 4:1–22), the secular authorities of Israel (Acts 12:1–4), and Rome (Acts 14:5).
10:17 Synagogues were not only places of worship but also places where discipline was carried out (flog).
10:18 to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. As Jesus foretold, the early church leaders would be called before Jewish officials (Acts 4:1–22), the secular authorities of Israel (Acts 12:1–4), and Rome (Acts 14:5).
Study Questions:
- To KNOW Jesus is to get UNCOMFORTABLE. Somehow we've gotten this idea that God wants us to be comfortable. He wants us to be wealthy and healthy and blessed. Of course! The problem is, you just don't see that in Scripture. In fact, every single faithful follower of Jesus suffered. Like a lot. God doesn't care about your comfort, he cares about your heart. The top two reasons kids decide not to go the mission fields to minister to unreached people groups are debt and PARENTS. Parents would rather their kids be comfortable and "successful" than be obedient to God's call on their lives. Our need for comfort is keeping the nations from hearing the Gospel. Think a little about God not being concerned with our comfort. How does this differ from what you've been taught growing up? If your child came up to you and told you they thought God might be calling them to go minister somewhere in the Middle East, would you try to talk them out of it?
- Jesus sent the 12 out into certain danger and discomfort. Everyone knew what had happened to John the Baptist. He was beheaded. It was almost as if Jesus was telling them that they were headed to the same fate. It's going to be difficult. You will suffer... but the good news is that the result is opportunity. Opportunity to share the good news about Jesus. Your biggest hinderance to being a true disciple, growing in your relationship with God and maturing in your faith is your own need for comfort. It makes us unwilling to give up certain things and fully surrender to him. What in your life have you been unwilling to surrender? In what areas of your life are you clinging to comfort?
Pray:
- That you would be willing to be uncomfortable for Jesus.
- That you would fully surrender everything in your life to him.
This Week's City 7
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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