Discipleship (part 2)

It is a warning to not seek the praise and a following from those to whom we minister. The point is that God has given us the joy of sharing in His work. We are His messengers and He allows us to share in the results.

Conclusion. Jesus’ words have been very serious. He calls us to tell others about Himself. He calls us to serve Him without expecting to be rich or famous. He expects us to tell our families, friends, and strangers about Himself. He knows that we will suffer in a variety of ways. He encourages us to not be afraid by trusting Him and being bold. If necessary, we should be willing to die as He did. My friend, the days are coming when persecution will become worse. Jesus encouraged the disciples and He encourages us by promising rewards,

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. And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. (NASB) Matt. 10:41-42

Jesus refers to three situations: helping a prophet, helping a righteous man, and helping a “little one.” In each case, Jesus promises a different reward for different conduct. This suggests that God has different rewards for many different things that we do, including the ministry of His Word to others. Anything that we do for another will be returned to us in some form of reward.

God is not an ogre who does not care about His own. He will reward us for the faithful service which He has asked of us.

Thus did Jesus teach that every kind of dedicated action is blessed by His Father, and no sacrifice for Him will ever be made in vain. At the conclusion of a life for service would come “pay day,” when the Lord’s servants would be rewarded for their consecrated efforts. These promises would be a great incentive to serve faithfully, but there is reason to believe that the greatest motivating power in the lives of everyone was not the promise of future rewards, but their overwhelming love for the Master who had commissioned them to minster for Him. Every true servant will gladly exclaim, “If He rewards me, that will be wonderful; if He does not, I’ll do it anyway - just for His sake.”

1. Ivor Powell. Matthew’s Majestic Gospel. Kregel Publications. 1986. p. 204., modified