[Jesus said,] “So do
not be afraid, you are of more value than many sparrows.” --Matthew 10:24
A teacher of mine once said,
“Jesus promised his disciples two things: First, that they would know everlasting peace
and joy. Second, that they were going to
get into trouble.” By faith, I believe
that the first is true. By experience, I
know that the second one is. By
experience, I have had tastes of the first promise. By faith, I believe the
second promise will never have the last word.
Jesus never promised that following him would be easy. He never promised that, in this life,
disciples would be rewarded with health, wealth, and blessings beyond
number. Just read the stories of Paul
and the early Christians in Acts, or Paul’s own accounts of his trials and
challenges! Study the stories of saints
and martyrs who dared to take up the cross and follow in the Way of Jesus. Listen to the stories of the many nameless ancestors
in the faith and their stories of struggle, persecution and trial. Look around the world today and you will
find Christians who pay a high price for living out their faith! Anyone who preaches that people who follow
Jesus will have it easy is lying to you.
Following Jesus may not be easy. It can even set us crossways with the world
and even our own families. But, in the
end, the first promise outweighs the second.
In Christ, we hear the Good News that we matter. We have value -- infinite value -- to the One
who created us and all that exists.
Jesus teaches us that God loves us at the sub-atomic level. God is closer than your breath, wider than
your most profound thought and deeper than your darkest fears. We are submerged in the river of God’s love
and grace and forgiveness and mercy and compassion in every moment of our lives
(even the rough ones). That’s why we
follow. We follow because we know that,
in Christ, fear need not control us or overwhelm us. (Note: I didn’t say we wouldn’t ever be afraid – we
live in a world of legitimately scary stuff.)
In Matthew, Chapter 10, Jesus sends his disciples out to
proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven and to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse
the lepers and cast out demons (vs. 7-8).
He sends them out to continue his mission of love and compassion,
justice and mercy. At the end of
Matthew’s Gospel he sends them out to invite others to join in the work and
promises that he will be with them to the end.
Disciples today have the same charge, the same work, the same mission
and the same challenge. It’s not always
easy. The world can and does
resist. WE resist! But, because we believe and trust in the
love of God shown to us in Jesus Christ, we have been given the power and the
courage to love the world like our teacher first loved us.
Peace,
Bishop Mike
Please pray for Christians and all those who suffer for the
sake of their faith! Thank-you for reading.
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