Matthew 10:1-33

Before PB kicked off the inaugural UNL men's discipleship group, he & I talked about the idea that, some idea or teaching from studying Jesus will make us uncomfortable or challenge our preconceived notions of Jesus.

I readily accept some aspects of Jesus as a revolutionary. The way He has the greatest compassion for the suffering, the downtrodden. I'm onboard with His rejection of the world's allegiances and hierarchies for His father's.

Yet, some aspects are more difficult to accept and this devotional chapter is very frank about them. The life of the original disciples was difficult. They were not to take payment, nor generally worry much for their material comfort. They were told they would make powerful enemies, understand that those who did not listen would be condemned to terrible suffering and drive families against one another. They were to be prepared to give up their lives in the faithful fulfillment of Jesus' commission to spread the word.

Honestly, I'm probably too preoccupied with material comfort. Not in the sense of fantasizing about driving sweet rides or sipping champagne. Not even about the social stature you have as a wealthier person; I really don't care about that. But I do associate money with providing a (maybe illusory) sense of stability and security.

I don't enjoy the idea of the non-listeners burning in Hell. My parents never believed in Jesus, nor my grandmother who's still alive. I don't enjoy the idea of pitting son against father or brother against sister over faith. Though, to be accurate, Jesus never says, "Relish the day, and do a little victory dance, when families clash and break apart over Me."

A little outside of today's devotional is Mat 10:37, where Jesus outright says:
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

Do I love Jesus more than Elliott & Colby? Man, I can tell you that it's not a slam dunk...

Basically it boils down to, "Drop everything you think is important to you, to spread My message. It, and you by proxy, will cause turmoil and division. You will be persecuted, probably jailed and possibly executed." That's what it takes to call yourself a disciple. Tough medicine...