We long for comfort. We want ease and assured freedom from suffering in our lives. We won’t admit it, but we act like Jesus owes us a life like that for saying we believe in him. This causes us fear and doubt if following Jesus is really worth the cost when the life He promises includes suffering. Belief in the gospel shows us that the American dream isn’t the standard for our lives. Jesus is the standard. In this life, we will suffer because He suffered first. His suffering was worth it because through his obedience to suffer, we were rewarded. In the same way, our suffering is worth it as well because others will be rewarded through our obedience. Jesus is worth the cost!

Takeaways:

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus prepares his disciples for adversity they will face while preaching, teaching, and healing, highlighting the challenges of their mission. The notion of being sent out as 'sheep among wolves' serves as a metaphor to illustrate the inherent dangers and hostility that the disciples will encounter. Jesus underscores the importance of enduring through persecution, stating that those who persevere in their faith will ultimately be saved and rewarded. The call to acknowledge Jesus before men emphasizes the necessity of public faith, wherein believers must openly declare their allegiance to Christ despite potential repercussions. Through the teachings in this passage, we learn that genuine faith in Jesus will triumph over fear of man, enabling believers to navigate trials with confidence and hope. Ultimately, the cost of following Jesus is significant, yet the promise of eternal reward far exceeds the challenges endured in this life.