Matthew 10: Following Jesus is a Journey of Faith.

 

Matthew 10

“Following Jesus means risk, rejection, and reward—but never abandonment.”

Following Jesus is a journey of faith.

Risk

Matthew 10:16

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

ü He told us that there will be risk—like sheep among wolves—so we must be wise and gentle at the same time.

Rejection

Matthew 10:22

22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 

Matthew 10:14

14And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 

ü He also said there will be rejection. Some people will not listen, some may even hate us because of His name. But He calls us to keep going, to endure until the end, because salvation is waiting.

Reward

Matthew 10:40–41

40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

Matthew 10:32

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven

ü At the same time, Jesus promised reward. When we stand for Him, He will stand for us before the Father. When people receive us, they are really receiving Him, and God will bless them. This is a great encouragement: our obedience brings eternal reward.

 Never Abandonment

Matthew 10:29–31

29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

ü And most of all, Jesus reminds us that we are never abandoned. God cares even for sparrows, and He cares for us much more. He knows every detail of our lives—even the number of hairs on our head. So, we do not need to be afraid.

As believers, this means we can follow Jesus with:

Ø courage when there is risk

Ø patience when there is rejection

Ø hope when we look to the reward

Ø peace knowing we are never alone

But Jesus also warns us:

Matthew 10:37–38

37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Brothers and sisters, this means we cannot be lukewarm. These words are sharp, but they are spoken in love.

Many today live in a lukewarm faith—comfortable, silent, unwilling to risk rejection. Yet Jesus says discipleship is costly. To be half‑hearted is to miss the joy of full obedience. Lukewarmness may feel safe, but it leaves us powerless and unfruitful.

This is a call to wake up:

·       Do not settle for a faith that only works when life is easy.

·       Do not hide your witness because of fear of rejection.

·       Do not cling to comfort when Jesus calls you to carry the cross.

“Jesus calls us to courage, endurance, and surrender. True Christians are not perfect people, but people with surrendered hearts.”

 

Let’s reflect:

v  Am I serious in my walk with Christ, or am I still half‑hearted?

v  When I face risk, do I trust His wisdom, or do I rely on myself?

v  When I face rejection, do I endure with love, or do I give up?

v  When I think of reward, do I fix my eyes on heaven, or on earthly praise?

v  When fear comes, do I remember that I am never abandoned by God?

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PASTORA MAY – JCRC STEUNG MEANCHEY