Scripture Reflections: Matthew 10
1He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Lord Jesus—The circle is clarified. We don’t have a record of the calling of each of the disciples, just the inner circle. But at some point the boundaries clarified. With the clearer definition came an increase in authority and responsibility.
2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Lord Jesus--The tag lines that got attached to some stick in my mind…they were pieces of information we have kept all these years. I wonder if these lines…Rocky…I mean Peter, the brother of Andrew, sons of Zebedee, son of Alphaeus, the Zealot, and the betrayer are the ways that these men would have like to be remembered. They are nick names and family relationships remembered, political affiliations, and defining choices—former tax collector, and betrayer. They are pieces of what form lives and made these men individuals.
What are the tag lines that define me Lord? Is it political affiliation? Family relationships? I hope that what ends up defining me are the choices that I have made. Matthew and Judas share that trait…they are remember by the choices that they made. Matthew was defined by the fact that he left a profession to follow you. Judas was, sadly, defined by his choice to reject and betray you. Both men had choices that you offered to them, an opportunity to choose well…both had been given a level of responsibility with risk associated with it.
I don’t like the fact that both men did not choose well. But I can’t ignore the fact that the same basic choice is presented again and again. A God of love and grace offers me a choice, bought at such a price. I have been invested with the responsibility to choose well.
1He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Lord Jesus—The circle is clarified. We don’t have a record of the calling of each of the disciples, just the inner circle. But at some point the boundaries clarified. With the clearer definition came an increase in authority and responsibility.
2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Lord Jesus--The tag lines that got attached to some stick in my mind…they were pieces of information we have kept all these years. I wonder if these lines…Rocky…I mean Peter, the brother of Andrew, sons of Zebedee, son of Alphaeus, the Zealot, and the betrayer are the ways that these men would have like to be remembered. They are nick names and family relationships remembered, political affiliations, and defining choices—former tax collector, and betrayer. They are pieces of what form lives and made these men individuals.
What are the tag lines that define me Lord? Is it political affiliation? Family relationships? I hope that what ends up defining me are the choices that I have made. Matthew and Judas share that trait…they are remember by the choices that they made. Matthew was defined by the fact that he left a profession to follow you. Judas was, sadly, defined by his choice to reject and betray you. Both men had choices that you offered to them, an opportunity to choose well…both had been given a level of responsibility with risk associated with it.
I don’t like the fact that both men did not choose well. But I can’t ignore the fact that the same basic choice is presented again and again. A God of love and grace offers me a choice, bought at such a price. I have been invested with the responsibility to choose well.
Lord Jesus help me choose well today.
