WHAT IT MEANS TO RECEIVE CHRIST IN YOUR HOME
16 “BEHOLD, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
40 “HE WHO RECEIVES YOU RECEIVES ME, AND HE WHO RECEIVES ME RECEIVES HIM WHO SENT ME [Jesus].
41 HE who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
42 AND WHOEVER GIVES ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES ONLY A CUP OF COLD WATER IN THE NAME OF A DISCIPLE, ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, HE SHALL BY NO MEANS LOSE HIS REWARD.”
Matthew 10:16,40-42 (NKJV)
When Jesus appointed His twelve disciples, He sent them out on a mission, to reach out to those who are lost (Matthew 10:5,16).
It was afterwards He started saying a number of things that may look strange to hear. He talks about bringing a disciple into disagreement with his or her parents and the family and others around them (Matthew 10:34-37). He talks about leaving all to follow Him, Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:38,39).
It was at the concluding part of the chapter He started talking about whoever receives the disciples sent out receives Him, Jesus, and whoever receives Him receives God Who sent Him, Jesus, and talks about the rewards attached to such gestures (Matthew 10:40-42).
Being sent out on evangelism or a mission work has a number of challenges and confrontations, but the price is not more than the grace (Matthew 10:9,17,18). The grace is always sufficient for whoever is genuinely and purposely sent out by God (Matthew 10:19,20).
The first thing is, the person being sent out should understand the purpose of being sent out and be convinced about it. No one should go out on a mission work on the basis of assumption. When you are faced with the realities of the mission work, you might want to run back If you went there on assumption. So, being convinced of what you are signing for or subscribing to is of paramount importance.
Jesus Christ in His discourse talks about the rewards that awaited those who received or blessed the disciples who are sent on missions. Whoever receives them has received Him, Jesus Christ Himself, and there is a reward for that. Even someone who gives a cup of water in the name of receiving a disciple, such a person will not lose the reward.
In one of my mission work to Wa, the upperwest region of Ghana. A muslim man, who happened to be an hotelier received me warmly, hearing that I am a missionary, that I was in Wa for a mission work. He assisted on a number of things, he gave discount on the accommodation bill and did a number of other things. Remember, this was a Muslim man! I surely believe he will not lose the rewards of what he did. It was on that same mission work I had some people who claimed to be Christians, probably nominal Christians, who had no consideration at all and even wanted to take advantage of me. Jesus said:
11 “NOW WHATEVER CITY OR TOWN YOU ENTER, INQUIRE WHO IN IT IS WORTHY, AND STAY THERE TILL YOU GO OUT. 12 AND WHEN YOU GO INTO A HOUSEHOLD, GREET IT. 13 IF THE HOUSEHOLD IS WORTHY, LET YOUR PEACE COME UPON IT. BUT IF IT IS NOT WORTHY, LET YOUR PEACE RETURN TO YOU" (Matthew 10:11-13 NKJV).
If you rejected someone sent on a mission by God or mistreated him or her, the peace brought by such a disciple or minister would not come on you and your home—the peace they brought would depart with them as they leave your place (Matthew 10:13). Thus, do not be part of those who maliciously maltreated the servants of God sent on missions or assignments:
10 WHEN I [John] COME I WILL TELL YOU SOME OF THE THINGS HE [Diotrephes] IS DOING AND WHAT WICKED THINGS HE IS SAYING ABOUT ME AND WHAT INSULTING LANGUAGE HE IS USING. HE NOT ONLY REFUSES TO WELCOME THE MISSIONARY TRAVELERS HIMSELF BUT TELLS OTHERS NOT TO, AND WHEN THEY DO HE TRIES TO PUT THEM OUT OF THE CHURCH. 11 DEAR FRIEND, DON'T LET THIS BAD EXAMPLE INFLUENCE YOU. FOLLOW ONLY WHAT IS GOOD. REMEMBER THAT THOSE WHO DO WHAT IS RIGHT PROVE THAT THEY ARE GOD'S CHILDREN; AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE IN EVIL PROVE THAT THEY ARE FAR FROM GOD" (3 John 10,11 the Living Bible).
Note:
If you received or supported those who are sent out on a mission work, you would be considered a partner with them in the doing of the work:
5 DEAR FRIEND, YOU ARE DOING A GOOD WORK FOR GOD IN TAKING CARE OF THE TRAVELING TEACHERS AND MISSIONARIES WHO ARE PASSING THROUGH. 6 THEY HAVE TOLD THE CHURCH HERE OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND YOUR LOVING DEEDS. I AM GLAD WHEN YOU SEND THEM ON THEIR WAY WITH A GENEROUS GIFT. 7 FOR THEY ARE TRAVELING FOR THE LORD AND TAKE NEITHER FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, NOR MONEY FROM THOSE WHO ARE NOT CHRISTIANS, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE PREACHED TO THEM. 8 SO WE OURSELVES SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEM IN ORDER THAT WE MAY BECOME PARTNERS WITH THEM IN THE LORD'S WORK" (3 John 5-8 the Living Bible).
Peace.
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