[Jesus said] “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39
Whom Do You Love?
These words of Jesus may be a bit difficult to comprehend, especially if you’ve ever held your own child in your arms. The love that parents have for their child is something that can hardly be described. It’s overwhelming. It’s profound. Many people experience their greatest joy in these moments.
As you consider the words of Jesus once again, ask yourself, “Is my love for my child, parent, sibling…greater than my love for Jesus?” If so, Jesus’ words cut deeply. In truth, we are breaking the very First Commandment, “You shall have no other gods,” if we are loving people more than we love Jesus. The results of this are eternally damning.
Let’s consider this from heaven’s eternal viewpoint. Everything we have is a gift from God–a gift that is best viewed “on loan.” Our parents are his. Our children are his. The material things we have are his, on loan to us for a time. If we love the gifts and not the giver of the gifts, we are idol worshippers.
Jesus had it all, and yet he gave it all up. He is the eternal Son of God who gave up the glory of heaven to come to this world, where he died destitute–all because he loved God above all else. He truly is the only one who has earned the title “worthy.” Yet, by grace alone, through faith alone, he forgives our sins and calls us worthy. He promises that whoever loves him and believes in him HAS eternal life.
What astonishing love Jesus has for us! What an amazing gift he has given to us! In love, he gives us eternal life—a gift that far surpasses all material gifts. May his love lead us to love him above all else—always.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me to love you more and more each day. Thank you for all the gifts you have given me. Amen.
[Jesus said] “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:42
God Notices
Large gifts or giant acts of kindness are often heralded, praised, and promoted. You have probably read stories about billionaires donating massive amounts of money to a children’s hospital, or a group fundraising campaign raising money to purchase a home for a homeless veteran, or a bunch of high school kids who all chip in to buy the school janitor a new car. Those are the kind of stories that get a lot of press and attention. I love hearing stories like that!
But what about the “little” gifts or the “small” acts of kindness? Do they make a difference? Does anyone notice? Does anyone care? The answer is most certainly yes! Jesus says that when we serve others and do things for others because we’re thankful for what Jesus has done for us, God absolutely cares and God loves to see us do them.
We don’t do those things to earn God’s favor or to pat ourselves on the back. We serve one another because we’re so thankful for what Jesus has done for us. Jesus gave himself up to death to save our lives. And now, we live our lives for his purpose: to serve God and to serve one another. And we can do this even in the “little” things we do each day. One example Jesus mentions is giving a thirsty child something to drink; however, the opportunities are endless—a kind word to a troubled heart, a prayer for a friend or stranger who is hurting, a sandwich or blanket for someone who is financially struggling, a cup of coffee and our attention to someone who needs someone to listen. We could come up with example after example. The opportunities are endless!
Consider how you can serve Jesus and someone else. Those acts of service aren’t nothing. And God notices them.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for serving me with your sacrifice on the cross so that I would be made one of your own. Give me opportunities this week to serve those you put in my life. Amen.
[Jesus said] “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.” Matthew 10:40-41
Welcoming Jesus
Sometimes when we share the truths of God found in the Bible, we are met with hostility or indifference. But sometimes the opposite happens. Sometimes, when we share a passage from the Bible to comfort or correct bad behavior or offer to pray for a person who is struggling, that act of love and kindness is welcomed with open arms.
And Jesus says something remarkable in our Bible reading for today. He says that when people welcome the words we share from the Bible, they are actually welcoming him.
Let this encourage you as you share his truths with others. When we share the message of the Bible, we are directing hearts to Jesus, who is strong enough to shoulder all of their burdens; Jesus, who loved them so much that he gave up his life for them; Jesus, who had the power to defeat death on their behalf.
Look for opportunities to share your favorite parts of the Bible. Ask your friends and family if there is anything you can pray for. Because when you do those things, you are bringing people closer to Jesus.
May Jesus bless you as you look to share him with others, and may he be welcomed in their hearts!
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for the people in my life who introduced me to you. Bless me this week as I look for people who are hurting or struggling as I share with them your amazing power and love. Amen.
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6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, because they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they went as far as Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 A vision appeared to Paul during the night. A Macedonian man was standing there, urging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 As soon as he had seen the vision, we [1] immediately made plans to proceed to Macedonia, because we concluded that God [2] had called us to preach the good news to them.
At Philippi
11 After we put out to sea from Troas, we sailed straight to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis. 12 From there we went to Philippi, which is a leading city in that part of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We stayed in this city for a number of days.
13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate alongside the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. [3] We sat down and began to talk to the women who had gathered there. 14 A woman named Lydia, who worshipped God, was listening. She was a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira. The Lord opened her heart to pay close attention to what Paul was saying. 15 When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Footnotes
Acts 16:10 Luke is included.
Acts 16:10 Some witnesses to the text read the Lord.
Acts 16:13 Some witnesses to the text read to the river, the customary place of prayer.
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they, along with many others, kept on teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas Go Separate Ways
36 After a time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the [1] brothers [2] in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, who is called Mark, along with them. 38 But Paul did not think it was a good idea to take him along, since he had deserted them in Pamphylia and did not continue to travel with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and set out, after being entrusted to the grace of the Lord [3] by the brothers. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
Acts 16
1 Paul arrived in Derbe and in Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, who was the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews who lived in those places, because they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the resolutions decided by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to keep. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number day by day.
Footnotes
Acts 15:36 A few witnesses to the text read our.
Acts 15:36 When context indicates it, the Greek word for brothers may refer to all fellow believers, male and female.
Note: We are aware of missing verses from today’s reading in the audio version. Please refer to the complete reading in the text version. We appreciate your understanding.
13 After they finished speaking, James responded, “Gentlemen, brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has reported how God for the first time has visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
16 After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord who does these things. [1]
18 “Long ago he made these things known. 19 So it is my judgment that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write a letter telling them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient times Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, since he is being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, thought it would be best to choose men from their group to send to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leading men among the brothers.
23 They wrote this letter for them to deliver:
From the apostles and the elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 We heard that there were some who came from us without our authorization and caused you distress by unsettling your minds with what they said. [2]25 So it seemed best to us, since we are of one mind, to choose some men to send to you, along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will report these same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to put no greater burden on you than these essentials: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you carefully avoid these things, you will do well.
Farewell.
30 After they were sent on their way, they went down to Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and rejoiced over its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, also said much that encouraged and strengthened the brothers. 33 After they had spent some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the greeting of peace to those who had sent them. [3]
Footnotes
Acts 15:17 Amos 9:11-12 quoted from the Septuagint
Acts 15:24 Some witnesses to the text add telling you to be circumcised and to keep the law.
Acts 15:33 Some witnesses to the text add verse 34: However, Silas decided to stay there.
1 Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised according to the law handed down by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Because this brought about a serious argument and debate between Paul and Barnabas and these men, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some other men from the church to go up to Jerusalem, to see the apostles and the elders concerning this controversy.
3 After they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they described in detail the conversion of the Gentiles and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported everything God had done through them.
5 But some of the believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and the elders gathered together to look into this matter. 7 After there had been much discussion, Peter stood up and said to them, “Gentlemen, brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you, that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, testified on their behalf by giving them the Holy Spirit, exactly as he gave him to us. 9 He also showed that there is no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why are you testing God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary! We believe that we are saved in the same way they are—through the grace of our Lord Jesus.”
12 The whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul, who reported all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and garlands to the city gates, because he wanted to offer sacrifices along with the crowds.
14 But when the apostles Paul and Barnabas heard about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men with the same nature as you. We are preaching the good news to you so that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without testimony of the good he does. He gives you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. He fills you with food and fills your hearts with gladness.” 18 Even though they said these things, they had a hard time stopping the crowds from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded the crowds to stone Paul. When they thought he was dead, they dragged him out of the city. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he stood up and went into the city. The next day, he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
The Return to Antioch
21 After they preached the good news in that city and had gathered many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. They told them, “We must go through many troubles on our way to the kingdom of God.” 23 They had elders elected [1] for them in every church, and with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they believed. 24 When they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the Word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26 From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had just completed. 27 When they arrived and called the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith for the Gentiles. 28 Then they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
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