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EXPECT TO BE HATED (MATTHEW 10:5-23)

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Expect to be hated.” Expecting to be hated means expecting to be disliked by many. The theme means that as people of faith and disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must expect to be hated just as Jesus was hated. We shall reflect on the fact that Christian ministry comes with a cost and reward.

Beloved in the Lord, Christian discipleship comes with a cost and a reward. In Matthew 10:5-23, Jesus sent his disciples into the Jewish world and made them aware of the cost and reward of responding to His call to preach the Good News. Jesus gives both cost and reward for obeying Him or preaching the Good News when He said to them, “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22). We need to understand that the world is constantly opposed to the Word of God because of sin. Sin represents darkness and deceit. Sin is the seed Satan planted in the world to destroy humanity’s relationship with God. It is for this reason we who represent the light and truth must go out there and preach the Gospel as commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 that “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20). The summary of the Gospel we are to preach is “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17).

Beloved in the Lord, as we proclaim the Good News, we should expect to be hated by family, colleagues at work and others who may not even know us personally. Irrespective of the hatred and the cost of discipleship, we are greatly emboldened by the assurance of Jesus that ““Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12). However, Peter admonished us, “But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹ To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:20-21) Paul confirmed the reward of suffering on account of Christ when he wrote to encourage Timothy in his last days in prison in Rome, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8) Beloved in the Lord, let us not give up or be weary but continue to endure the cost of discipleship to the end and the reward of eternal life shall be given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In summary, we have been reminded that Christian discipleship comes with a cost and a reward. May we continue to preach the Good News even as we endure the hatred that comes with being disciples of Christ. Shalom.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit grant us the strength to endure hatred and hardship even as we await the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.