{"id":2146,"date":"2021-02-18T18:30:53","date_gmt":"2021-02-19T02:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/?p=2146"},"modified":"2021-02-20T14:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-02-20T22:00:00","slug":"abiding-in-the-lord-matthew-ch-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/blog\/abiding-in-the-lord-matthew-ch-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Abiding in the Lord: Matthew Ch. 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)<\/em><\/p>\n

Worship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!<\/strong>) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scripture Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and\/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!<\/p>\n

Scripture Reading: Matthew Ch. 10 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Devotional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(vv. 1-15)<\/span>\u00a0Can you\u00a0<\/span>recall\u00a0<\/span>and list\u00a0<\/span>all\u00a0<\/span>the names of Jesus\u2019 disciples?<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After\u00a0<\/span>Jesus<\/span>\u00a0had<\/span>\u00a0said, “\u2026\u00a0<\/span>pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest<\/span><\/b>.” (Mt. 9<\/span>:<\/span>38)<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>Jesus called\u00a0<\/span>the t<\/span>welve\u00a0<\/span>apostles,\u00a0<\/span>gave them the\u00a0<\/span>authority\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>heal every disease and sickness and drive out impure spirits and then\u00a0<\/span>sent them to\u00a0<\/span>proclaim the gospel everywhere<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>To t<\/span>h<\/span>ese apostles,\u00a0<\/span>it was not others, but themselves, who were sent out by the master of the\u00a0<\/span>harvest<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0They asked the Lord first and then they were sent off<\/span>. That is\u00a0<\/span>a good reminder to us.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0It is not ideal\u00a0<\/span>if\u00a0<\/span>a person just asks the Lord without any plan to be sent off or if a person is being sent off without seeking the Lord in advance.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Initially,\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>apostles\u00a0<\/span>just\u00a0<\/span>watched\u00a0<\/span>and followed\u00a0<\/span>Jesus, the master of all authorit<\/span>y<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>proclaim the gospel<\/span>. They watched Jesus\u00a0<\/span>heal every disease and sickness and drive out demons. Finally,\u00a0<\/span>it was their turn to be\u00a0<\/span>sent off to the field.\u00a0<\/span>The way Jesus\u00a0<\/span>prepared\u00a0<\/span>his disciples was by no means<\/span>\u00a0empty talks<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0But in real practices, his disciples were prepared and ready to\u00a0<\/span>serve in the<\/span>\u00a0time\u00a0<\/span>when\u00a0<\/span>Jesus<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>was not<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you ready\u00a0<\/span>go into the harvest fields<\/span>?\u00a0<\/span>S<\/span>till\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>little\u00a0<\/span>bit\u00a0<\/span>worried<\/span>\u00a0or not knowing what to d<\/span>o? The later scriptures continue to tell us about Jesus’\u00a0<\/span>instructions\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0his disciples!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(vv. 1<\/span>6<\/span>–<\/span>42<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Before\u00a0<\/span>Jesus<\/span>\u00a0sent off\u00a0<\/span>his disciples<\/span>, he provided them with detailed instructions<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Primarily,\u00a0<\/span>Jesus said to them that\u00a0<\/span>they were to look like\u00a0<\/span>sheep in the midst of wolves<\/span>\u00a0and they were to be\u00a0<\/span>wise as serpents and innocent as doves.\u00a0<\/span>Similar to the world we are facing today, often times, we\u00a0<\/span>encounter\u00a0<\/span>people with\u00a0<\/span>many different values\u00a0<\/span>th<\/span>at are distorted, conflicting<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0<\/span>the truth we believe in<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>As we fac<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0the environment, we need to l<\/span>earn how to\u00a0<\/span>be<\/span>\u00a0as\u00a0<\/span>wise\u00a0<\/span>as\u00a0<\/span>serpents<\/span>\u00a0while\u00a0<\/span>being innocent as doves<\/span>\u00a0while\u00a0<\/span>serv<\/span>ing\u00a0<\/span>the Lord faithfully and patiently.\u00a0<\/span>Although\u00a0<\/span>we may feel like<\/span>\u00a0sheep\u00a0<\/span>among wolves, we know Jesus, our\u00a0<\/span>G<\/span>reat\u00a0<\/span>S<\/span>hepherd, is able to protect his flocks through the\u00a0<\/span>presence of t<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>Holy Spirit<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>God\u2019s mighty power<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Yet,<\/span>\u00a0if we turn to follow the\u00a0<\/span>distorted\u00a0<\/span>world<\/span>ly values<\/span>, being unfaithful and\u00a0<\/span>deceitful<\/span>\u00a0to the Lord, we will lose the protection of the great shepherd.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

W<\/span>hich verse\u00a0<\/span>do you think best\u00a0<\/span>address\u00a0<\/span>the challenges you’ve<\/span>\u00a0been<\/span>\u00a0faced recently? Jesus asked us not to be afraid<\/span>\u00a0of the world.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cAnd do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0(Mt. 10:28)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

W<\/span>e are in\u00a0<\/span>God\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>hands<\/span>. W<\/span>e are much more<\/span>\u00a0valuable\u00a0<\/span>than sparrows, even\u00a0<\/span>our\u00a0<\/span>hair<\/span>s have been\u00a0<\/span>counted!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While asking us not to be afraid<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in this world<\/span>, Jesus also remind<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0us that\u00a0<\/span>we\u00a0<\/span>should\u00a0<\/span>honor God in our hearts<\/span>! We\u00a0<\/span>shall\u00a0<\/span>do our best\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>testify to Jesus<\/span>\u00a0faithfully<\/span>, p<\/span>reach what we have heard<\/span>\u00a0(the gospel)<\/span>\u00a0to the world, and to live\u00a0<\/span>out\u00a0<\/span>what we believe<\/span>\u00a0in<\/span>!\u00a0<\/span>What is\u00a0<\/span>it to be\u00a0<\/span>faithful?\u00a0<\/span>What is doing our best?\u00a0<\/span>Jesus mentioned\u00a0<\/span>keeping\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>deep\u00a0<\/span>personal relationship with<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>loved one<\/span>\u00a0would be an example<\/span>. We shall\u00a0<\/span>seriously think\u00a0<\/span>how to prioritize our relationship with Jesus<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and be\u00a0<\/span>obe<\/span>dient to\u00a0<\/span>Him as our\u00a0<\/span>first priority,\u00a0<\/span>carry<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>our own\u00a0<\/span>cross\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>follow him.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Have you ever\u00a0<\/span>heard\u00a0<\/span>someone us<\/span>ing\u00a0<\/span>thi<\/span>s passage\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>vv.\u00a0<\/span>34-39) as an excuse to abandon\u00a0<\/span>his\/her\u00a0<\/span>family and<\/span>\u00a0leave his\/her family?\u00a0<\/span>(Please pay attention to\u00a0<\/span>the occasion how\u00a0<\/span>Jesus\u00a0<\/span>used his words<\/span>)<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Nevertheless,\u00a0<\/span>I\u00a0<\/span>have\u00a0<\/span>heard of\u00a0<\/span>many\u00a0<\/span>testimonials\u00a0<\/span>from people who said their\u00a0<\/span>families are<\/span>\u00a0actually<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>more\u00a0<\/span>blessed when they\u00a0<\/span>themselves l<\/span>ove God and follow Jesus<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>whole-heartedly.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

May God bless those who\u00a0<\/span>honor\u00a0<\/span>him<\/span>, those who\u00a0<\/span>are willing to\u00a0<\/span>obey his commands, and those who are sen<\/span>t<\/span>\u00a0in his name<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pray<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: \u201cDear Lord, what\/where are you going to lead me to today?”)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abiding-in-the-lord","category-pastor-mickey-hsiao"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2146"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2146\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2157,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2146\/revisions\/2157"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}