Bible League: Living His Word "But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all."— Matthew 10:26 NLT Jesus warned his disciples to beware. Beware of what? They should beware of the wolves out there. He said, "Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves" (Matthew 10:16). In this context, "wolves" represents those that harass and persecute the disciples. "Sheep" represents the disciples. The disciples should use wisdom and caution when they encounter predators. They shouldn't needlessly endanger themselves. In our verse for today, Jesus says that the disciples should not be afraid of the persecutors. They should beware of them, but they shouldn't fear them. Although they may be tempted to succumb to the threats, they should stand firm no matter how hard it gets. Disciples should be willing to endure the harassment and persecution, because "everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all." What does this mean? It means that the truth about the disciples will be revealed in due time, and they will be vindicated. Although they may have to suffer the slander and accusations of the persecutors in this life, the time will come when the slander and accusations will be shown to be lies. Although the persecutors may treat them harshly and unjustly for a time, the time will come when the faithful will be rewarded for their courage and steadfastness. For disciples, defeat is just temporary. For disciples, victory is assured. When will it happen? It could happen at any time. Already in this life the disciples partake of the good things that come with salvation. Already truth and justice make appearances in their lives. If, however, it does not come in this life, then the life to come will make up for it. You can be assured, then, that the injustice of your suffering will not go on forever. Your pain and sorrow will not be eternal. A day is coming, perhaps sooner than your think, when your integrity and righteousness will be revealed for all to see and celebrate. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingGenesis 44, 45 Genesis 44 -- Benjamin and the Silver Cup NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 45 -- Joseph Makes Himself Known and Forgives His Brothers NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 14:1-21 Matthew 14 -- John the Baptist Beheaded; Jesus Feeds Five Thousand, Walks on Water NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “What do you mean, ‘What's the matter?'“ Micah replied. “You've taken away all the gods I have made, and my priest, and I have nothing left!”Insight Micah made idols and hired a priest to run his personal religion. When the men of Dan took his idols and priest, nothing remained. What an empty spiritual condition! An idol is anything that takes God's place in a person's life. Challenge Some people invest all their energy in pursuing money, success, possessions, or a career. If these idols are taken away, only an empty shell is left. The only way to protect yourself against such loss is to invest your life in the living God, whom you can never lose. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Songs 3:1 I sought him, but I found him not.Tell me where you lost the company of Christ, and I will tell you the most likely place to find him. Have you lost Christ in the closet by restraining prayer? Then it is there you must seek and find him. Did you lose Christ by sin? You will find Christ in no other way but by the giving up of the sin, and seeking by the Holy Spirit to mortify the member in which the lust doth dwell. Did you lose Christ by neglecting the Scriptures? You must find Christ in the Scriptures. It is a true proverb, "Look for a thing where you dropped it, it is there." So look for Christ where you lost him, for he has not gone away. But it is hard work to go back for Christ. Bunyan tells us, the pilgrim found the piece of the road back to the Arbour of Ease, where he lost his roll, the hardest he had ever travelled. Twenty miles onward is easier than to go one mile back for the lost evidence. Take care, then, when you find your Master, to cling close to him. But how is it you have lost him? One would have thought you would never have parted with such a precious friend, whose presence is so sweet, whose words are so comforting, and whose company is so dear to you! How is it that you did not watch him every moment for fear of losing sight of him? Yet, since you have let him go, what a mercy that you are seeking him, even though you mournfully groan, "O that I knew where I might find him!" Go on seeking, for it is dangerous to be without thy Lord. Without Christ you are like a sheep without its shepherd; like a tree without water at its roots; like a sere leaf in the tempest--not bound to the tree of life. With thine whole heart seek him, and he will be found of thee: only give thyself thoroughly up to the search, and verily, thou shalt yet discover him to thy joy and gladness. Daily Light on the Daily Path ACTS 20:19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;Matthew 20:26-28 "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, • and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; • just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Galatians 6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Romans 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Luke 17:10 "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'" 2 Corinthians 1:12 For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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