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 Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.He whom we viewed last evening as opening Scripture, we here perceive opening the understanding. In the first work he has many fellow-laborers, but in the second he stands alone; many can bring the Scriptures to the mind, but the Lord alone can prepare the mind to receive the Scriptures. Our Lord Jesus differs from all other teachers; they reach the ear, but he instructs the heart; they deal with the outward letter, but he imparts an inward taste for the truth, by which we perceive its savour and spirit. The most unlearned of men become ripe scholars in the school of grace when the Lord Jesus by his Holy Spirit unfolds the mysteries of the kingdom to them, and grants the divine anointing by which they are enabled to behold the invisible. Happy are we if we have had our understandings cleared and strengthened by the Master! How many men of profound learning are ignorant of eternal things! They know the killing letter of revelation, but its killing spirit they cannot discern; they have a veil upon their hearts which the eyes of carnal reason cannot penetrate. Such was our case a little time ago; we who now see were once utterly blind; truth was to us as beauty in the dark, a thing unnoticed and neglected. Had it not been for the love of Jesus we should have remained to this moment in utter ignorance, for without his gracious opening of our understanding, we could no more have attained to spiritual knowledge than an infant can climb the Pyramids, or an ostrich fly up to the stars. Jesus' College is the only one in which God's truth can be really learned; other schools may teach us what is to be believed, but Christ's alone can show us how to believe it. Let us sit at the feet of Jesus, and by earnest prayer call in his blessed aid that our dull wits may grow brighter, and our feeble understandings may receive heavenly things. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.Genesis 9:20,21 Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. • He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. Genesis 12:11,13 It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; • "Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you." Genesis 27:21,24 Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come close, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not." • And he said, "Are you really my son Esau?" And he said, "I am." Psalm 106:32,33 They also provoked Him to wrath at the waters of Meribah, So that it went hard with Moses on their account; • Because they were rebellious against His Spirit, He spoke rashly with his lips. Joshua 9:14,15 So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD. • Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. 1 Kings 15:5 because David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite. Hebrews 11:39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, Romans 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Isaiah 53:8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? Ezekiel 36:32 "I am not doing this for your sake," declares the Lord GOD, "let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!" 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. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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