Are we being a worthy host?
18.09.18 | Godwin Sunder“Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.”
“And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.” Matt 10:11
Chapter 10 of Matthew is where we see Jesus calling his twelve disciples amongst the many followers and sending them out with authority to proclaim the message “the Kingdom of God is at hand” and do the works that Jesus did.
Jesus gives them clear instructions of how to go about proclaiming the good news and gives them warnings of persecution and confrontations they would face.
If we can be honest with ourselves, when we read through this chapter, our immediate inclination will be to learn and apply the message that we too are disciples of Jesus and we are too are called to go out and that we too will face confrontations. We draw immense comfort in that which Jesus taught, when we do not know what to speak or say, that the Spirit of God will help us in that hour and need (Matt 10:19). We get challenged to go and do the same as the twelve. Yes, we at all times ought to be ready to proclaim the good news and also in all seasons be ready to give our reason for the hope we have. The sending out and the instructions is only ONE aspect of this chapter. There is another, this is where I would like to draw our attention to. They are the RECIPIENTS or the HOSTS:
“Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.”
Are we the worthy hosts of those who carry good news of Jesus? Verse 11 is very clear, to those who are sent out, that they are to find/seek/scout the region for someone who is worthy, and they are to STAY there until they depart, not until the hosts say “I believe you’ve overstayed your time, please be on your way.” Verse 13 says, “And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it…” and further on in verses 40-42 we are told, “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoevers receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you he will by no means lose his reward.” The reward for being a worthy host is as fulfilling as one who is a guest. The blessing is mutual and it is not to be limited by a time frame. We have freely received, so shall we freely give!
Finally, ARE WE BEING A WORTHY HOST?
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