Friday, June 24, 2011

Back to basics...

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:40-42)

We have all heard the call for labourers in the vineyard...the command to go and make disciples...the invitation and challenge to deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow Jesus...but our response to these various words of Jesus is usually tempered by our feelings of inadequacy and lack of ability. In these few verse from the Gospel according to Matthew,what does it mean to hear and heed and live in response to Jesus' call to discipleship?

Simply this...to be hospitable...to meet the basic need of those you meet. Whether that need is a glass of water or spare change from your pocket or sharing your lunch or providing a bed or a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on or a lift to the corner shop. The smallest kindness is of great value in the Kingdom of God.

And why shouldn't this be so. As Peter reminds us, we are the king's priests and a holy nation. Every aspect of my life is sacred, holy, set apart for God's service. Even that simple drink of water or the loose change in my pocket.

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