MARCH 22 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#10 “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?” (Matthew 10:29)

 MARCH 22  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#10 “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?” (Matthew 10:29)

LIVING FOR JESUS  Daily Prayer    

JESUS, O the blessed joy of starting my day with You and to know that it is Your desire that we have fellowship with the Father as we go through our day and that all our physical and spiritual needs will be met on a “daily” basis. Lord Jesus, I thank You that many years ago that You had turned my thoughts to the Great Sacrifice You made for the Atonement of sin, all sin, and that all who believed that Sacrifice was Your Purpose and understood it as the Will of the Father could be heirs in the Kingdom of God and partake in His Righteousness. Lord, we do not deserve Your Gift of Sacrifice and the Father’s Gift of Free Will but I accept both because I BELIEVE and ACCEPT YOUR LOVE and I desire to return an acceptable “Offering” to the One that imparts Eternal Life on Believers.    AMEN

THE JESUS QUESTIONS

JESUS and the simple Question of sparrows and coins has been a very “profitable spiritual” study. Matthew Chapter 10 is filled with many, many wonderful spiritual treasures that profit us on our spiritual journey so let us look at the tremendous promises God gives to those willing to “pay the cost”  of being a disciple of Jesus. Matthew 10:1-28 lists some serious “costs of discipleship” leading up to JQ#10 where the seemingly simple sparrows and copper coin Question was asked by Jesus to focus our attention on the “spiritual value” of discipleship and then the rest of the chapter we find assurance that our efforts of discipleship will be met with great spiritual compensation for “paying the cost”.  We know the “rewards” will be “spiritual” because Jesus told His disciples in verses Matthew 10:9-10 not to take “money” or any “physical possessions” on our journey. However, Jesus promised the disciples that they were not going out empty handed — His disciples were assured of their daily bread and that though they were empty-handed that they would be given the very Power of God to complete their assigned tasks for the kingdom’s sake!   All instructions Jesus gives on  discipleship warns of “physical” costs to pay for following Him but that we are “not to fear” or worry because the “Spiritual Compensation” far outweighs the “physical cost”!  Jesus adds some very significant spiritual compensations as Jesus commands all His followers that we should not worry about our physical death because our soul (spirit) is eternal and if we will focus on our “spiritual value” that God Himself will provide for  all the needs of those that choose to be “followers of Jesus”! God promises to give us eternal security and that our eternal lives will be spent with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit if we but “follow after [Jesus]” (Matthew 10:38). Jesus then adds “spiritual assurance” as He states clearly: “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. He who receives you receives Me , and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” (Matthew 10:39-40) Jesus concludes our list of “spiritual compensations” by throwing in an Eternal Lifetime warranty and Divine guarantee: “…assuredly, I say to you, [My disciples] shall by no means lose [their] reward.” (Matthew 10:42) I can’t help but start singing a song, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchased of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His Blood!”. It’s a simple Question of two sparrows and a copper coin but with the right answer we can be assured of eternal salvation if we just believe in our “spiritual value”: “Do not fear therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31) With this kind of “spiritual assurance” it makes the “daily cross” a little easier to bear, don’t you think?