MARCH 21 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#10 “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?” (Matthew 10:29)

 MARCH 21  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#10 “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?” (Matthew 10:29)

LIVING FOR JESUS Daily Prayer    

JESUS, another day and new mercies and “Hope” for our future. You Lord have commanded us to “take up our cross” daily and then with great assurance You immediately add that once we take up the cross that we are also commanded by You to “Follow Me” — Lord thank you for teaching us that by “following” you that You will help us bear the burden of our cross and even though it is a cross that is heavy to bear physically that it is a “spiritual blessing” and will lead us to the Narrow Gate and we can rest assured that You will be with us each step of the “Way”.    AMEN

THE JESUS QUESTIONS

JESUS uses a simple sparrows and coin Question that points us to a simple plot of spiritual ground that seems to not hold anything of significance but once we have scratched the surface of His Lesson we find that we have uncovered many kingdom gems and if we continue digging in this tremendous Chapter 10 in the Gospel of Matthew we will find some extraordinary “Truths of God” that will help us to know how to please “our Father in heaven” and to inherit “everlasting life”. As we study the Teachings of Jesus we see that Jesus always Teaches that the physical “Choices” we make have “Spiritual Consequences”. Jesus always Teaches us how to look at the physical with spiritual eyes and Jesus promises that  our “Trust in God” will “cure our spiritual blindness” and we will be able to see the “Will of the Father”. Matthew Chapter 10 is a very important “Lesson” for all who seek to know the Father and want to follow His Only Begotten Son Jesus for we see that Jesus starts Matthew Chapter 10 by calling each of His disciples by name and then He sends them out to the “lost sheep” with His Message that the “kingdom of God is at hand”. Jesus gives His disciples a specific set of instructions of how to demonstrate the Power of God so that the “lost” can be saved and inherit everlasting life. Jesus informs the disciples what the cost of discipleship will be as well as what the compensation and rewards will be for following Him. Jesus always asks a Question in His Lessons that will laser-focus us on the most important aspect of the Lesson and in this very important Matthew Chapter 10 where Jesus is equipping His disciples to share His Message with the lost, Jesus keeps us focused on the “spiritual value” of those that choose discipleship. Jesus instructs the disciples to (1) heal the sick (2) cleanse the lepers and (3) cast out demons — all actions which can only be accomplished by the Power of God — so we can be assured that Jesus will not ask them to perform a task He has not equipped them for!  To draw the disciples attention to trusting God for their daily bread, Jesus tells them to “go” but not to take any money with them, not to pack a bag for their journey, not to take extra clothes, shoes, or staffs because God will provide for all their physical needs and will equip them with all their spiritual needs to accomplish their jobs as Jesus states: “for a worker is worthy of his food.” (Matthew 10:6-10). Jesus reminds them that they will be as “sheep in the midst of wolves” and that men will “scourge” them (Matthew 10:16-18) however, Jesus never told them the “cost” of discipleship without assuring them that God would “equip” them to both endure and prosper and most importantly that God would always be with them. Jesus tells them immediately “But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak: for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” (Matthew 10:19-20) Jesus continually points to the “Truth of God” that God will provide and that the “spiritual” should always take precedence over the “physical” as illustrated in the sparrow and copper coin (Matthew 10:29a) Question! We can glimpse this valuable “spiritual gem” if we but dig into the field of “God’s Truth” and we use these instructions on what to expect as disciples of Jesus doing kingdom work in a lost world, just get ready, roll up your sleeves and keep digging in God’s Word!