I had a hard time this morning determining my thoughts according to God’s Word. The passage I was led to is Matthew 10:40-42 titled, “Rewards”. When I read the passage, it is hard not to think of reward as that is the title of the passage. But my eye and my mind kept coming back to the word I am studying, “receives”, and I am struck by what I found and the impact.
“40Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41The 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.” – Matthew 10:40-41 (ESV)
What I see when I look closely is not the reward itself. Yes, there is great reward in receiving Jesus and God through the receipt of the disciples. But look at the others carrying the same reward, prophets and righteous persons. It is not left up to those in defined positions in the hierarchy of the LORD.
We receive from all those who walk this world. Notice my words above, we receive. Not all receipts are rewards. Even those who are not disciples and prophets and righteous have something to give. They will give of what they know and have received themselves.
“15Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” – Matthew 7:15-16 (ESV)
We have to be deliberate in our receiving of others. There are those who will deceive us into believing that they somehow have something for us that is of great reward. They may have something of value to give, yet they may have obtained it from a spoiled or irreverent origin. There may be surface beauty in the shiny thing, yet once the surface is scratched the truth is exposed to be of little to no lasting value. These will give to us, yet at some point they ask for something in return, making the gift something we pay for as opposed to being a gift.
In our lives we are best served when we receive from the right places. Not those with surface platitudes to gain from us. We should look to receive from those who are giving without the expectation of returns. We should be looking to God, Jesus, disciples, prophets, and the righteous to receive the gift of the LORD for they do not ask for a return gift. God, Jesus, disciples, prophets, and the righteous do not ask for payment, they ask for you to receive the reward and your payment has been made through Christ.
It is hard in this world as we all look to just make it. I know that in my house, I am looking for ways to just get by each day. Thankfully, God has sent disciples, prophets, and righteous people into my life to give to me and help me make it. I have bible study partners, discipleship partners, community group partners, fellow worship partners, Lori, and most importantly Jesus Christ to give me gifts that impact my life. All of these are giving of what God gave them and what a wonderful thing to receive.
Where are you receiving? Are you receiving from those who give and then ask for something in return for payment? What if you received from those who only want to give and not receive some payment later?
