“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves….”

“What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 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….”

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven….”

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it…”

“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. 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.”  Matthew 10:16,27-28,32-33,37-39,41-42

This is the Lord Jesus speaking plainly. He does not use parables or ambiguous words. He speaks in a way that every generation of Christian is going to understand first time.

We are to ditch the cynical, and look at life honestly and treat people in mercy and wisdom. Being fooled and being foolish is not the way of God. 

The message of repentance and faith must be spoken clearly and to everyone. Don’t be afraid of people, but of God. Obedience to Him and a holy fear of falling away is our motivation. If we are true to our Saviour Christ, He will raise us up in the eternal kingdom. 

No one takes the place in our hearts, of our friend and Redeemer, Jesus. The Lord Jesus comes first and we loose our lives in serving Him. Whatever burdens we are asked to bear, we do so, as He Himself did for us. We might try to save ourselves from trouble and heartache, but we remember that loosing everything to Christ is eternal blessing. 

To support and welcome a prophet or a godly person in the name of Jesus Christ, will secure the same reward as they do. We turn no one away, but meet the needs of the least and lowest. A cup of cold water given to a child of God in need, will receive the reward of Christ. 

It’s nice to read and the words go so well, but will we practice this every day? 

Jesus says, if we try to sidestep the issue and save ourselves from social shame or rejection, we will loose everything. To find your life, you must loose it all and put Christ as number one… it’s very straightforward…