Matthew 10

Why do we use the word ‘disciple’ to describe those who believe in Jesus Christ? What does that term say about those who claim to believe in Christ? Are all those who profess faith in Christ disciples?

Matthew ten opens with Jesus calling His disciples to Him and giving them a mission. In giving this mission and describing its perils and blessings in the rest of the chapter our Lord spells out the chapter’s main theme. That theme is basically what is a disciple. A quick overview of the chapter reveals that among other things a disciple is one who follows after the ways, character and agenda of the Lord Jesus Christ. A disciple is one who is under the direct authority of the Lord and thus one sent and bound to carry out the Lord’s mission. A disciple is a direct representative of our Lord and consequently must conduct their ministry as He did. Also a disciple is one empowered by the Lord to carry out ministry and declares the message of the gospel of our Lord.

Disciples enter into a lifestyle that is not always easy. Jesus said that at times they would be betrayed by close relatives even to the point of death. Disciples shouldn’t expect to welcomed with open arms by those of this world. Once we preach, stand for and model the message, person and work of Jesus Christ we can expect some form of persecution. A disciple is one who proceeds into ministry without fear. Why because the worst that can happen to us is the loss of life. Yet those who kill our bodies cannot ever destroy our souls. Finally, a disciple is one who loves the Lord more than his or her own life, and values the rewards and blessings of the age to come more than the comforts and conveniences of this age.

One of the most important things this passages teaches about God is the tender, particular love He has for His children. Jesus said that the Father is fully aware of the difficult life a disciple must endure and knows the kind of opposition we will face. If God is aware of when a sparrow falls than we can be completely assured that He knows all of the most important details and issues surrounding those details of our lives. Though we fall in His service we will not be forgotten but the Lord Himself will graciously and lovingly take us into His eternal presence after our time of service to Him is finished.

Like many other chapters in Matthew Jesus asserts His unique deity and place with the Father. Jesus told the disciples that they would be brought to account specifically for His sake. In other words their testimony about God, His kingdom and salvation would be so inextricably connected to the person and work of Christ that to therefore reject Christ would be to reject the living God who gave Moses the law. Jesus reinforces that a disciple, that is one who claims faith in Jesus Christ is one that acknowledges His unique lordship before others. Once more Jesus gives the call to discipleship which is to lose one’s life in order to really discover and enjoy what real life is. How does one do that? By reorienting your life around the worship, will, agenda and service to the Lord Jesus Christ.

How do we apply these things? Let’s begin by answering the call of discipleship by knowing what the gospel of Jesus Christ is. Since we’re called to declare that gospel before those God has sent us to let’s be sure to have a firm grip and grasp of that gospel.
Secondly, pray that the Lord will give you a burden to share the gospel with a particular group of people. Here Jesus told the disciples to the people of Israel. We know that Matthew’s gospel ends with our Lord commissioning the disciples to go to people of all ethnicities. Pray that the Lord will give you a people to share the gospel with and then empower to connect with those people by doing good and building relationships with them.
Finally, let’s prepare for worship by beginning now to thank the Lord for calling us out of the emptiness of a life lived just for our own pleasure, fame, significance and comfort into a life of true meaning, genuine joy and eternal reward. Let’s worship God who will reward us for answering His call to ministry and living the only kind of life that will matter for eternity.

To Him Who Loves Us...

Pastor Lance