Category: Kingdom Perspectives
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The Question from Prison (Refiner’s Fire Pt 2)
NOTE: “Refiner’s Fire” is a mini-series within my overall series on the gospel of Matthew. It deals with the story of John the Baptist as a vehicle for navigating our own struggles with doubt, disappointment, and crisis of faith. I’m working on it daily and will release the whole thing as a book once it’s…
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The Refiner’s Fire: The Struggle and Triumph of John the Baptist (Introduction)
REFINER’S FIRE: AN INTRODUCTION Sometimes life, and writing, takes an unexpected turn. As I wound down the end of my study of Matthew 10, I looked ahead to chapter 11 with the intention of skipping fairly quickly over the interaction between Jesus and John the Baptist. That would allow me to get back to the…
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We Are the Little Ones: Persecution, Promise, and the Tender Affection of God
And whoever gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple — I assure you: He will never lose his reward! (Matthew 10:42) Here at the very end of Matthew 10, we step back and survey how far we have come. This has been a chapter…
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It Matters Who Your Friends Are: Alignment, Allegiance, and Welcoming the Kingdom of God
The one who welcomes you welcomes Me, and the one who welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives just a cup…
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Receiving One Another: How the Act of Welcome Changes the World
The one who welcomes you welcomes Me, and the one who welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. (Matthew 10:40) This statement comes at the very end of Matthew 10 and its long discussion of the costs and communion of following Jesus. It’s a promise of Jesus’s presence and identity with us, and it gives…
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Peace, Betrayal, and the Faithful Love of a Loyal God
Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. (Matthew 10:34-36) This…
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A Place Where You Belong: Accessing Heaven through Allegiance to Jesus
Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33) With these words, Jesus begins to wrap up the discourse of chapter 10 with a final “therefore.” “Because all…
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Hidden Things: Apocalyptic Living and the Revelatory Kingdom of God
Therefore, don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper [lit: in the ear], proclaim on the housetops. (Matthew 10:26-27) As a teacher, there are…
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It Is Enough: Why Being Like Jesus Is All We Need
When they persecute you in one town, escape to another. For I assure you: You will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master. It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a…
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Changing Loyalties and the New Family of God
Note from Rachel: I’m back! My 3-month blog sabbatical stretched into 3 ½ due mostly to travel, but I’m glad to be home and writing again. Without further ado … Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will even rise up against their parents and have them put to death.…