March 18, 2020 - If you are able, take a look a Matthew 10:16-33 To be honest, to understand the text you should probably read verses 1-15 as well. The preceding verses record Jesus telling the Apostles of what lies ahead of them (we can read Acts and study church history as well to understand what happened to them). It should be noted that the persecution described in these verses is not the experience of every Christian but is the experience of some. For instance, we do not need to hide our Bibles but can have a couple copies at home. There are other examples of course. I’ll assume that the majority of us have not been dragged before governors, kings, presidents, and the like for Christ sake.

This doesn’t mean that we can’t find biblical wisdom in the verses. We need to do so with the correct context. Of course it’s good for us to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. That essentially means, don’t be fools and don’t be foolish. Our heads are not to be buried in the sand, blocking out the world, and we are not to expose our necks as well. Be wise.

What we today can gather from the text is that the Christian life is not a bed of roses. Yes, death has lost its victory and sting but we still experience death. We still experience the aches and pains of the world folks. We probably will not suffer like the Apostles but yet we will have our own. The comfort to you is in verses 32. Verse 32 reads, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,”. Faith in Christ, Christian. Remember Christ and his body which was broken for you. In those dark times remember that Christ is King and through him you are forgiven.

Wynter is an Elder at Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church. Find out more at MariposaChurch.org or email him at wynter@mariposachurch.org. Visit Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church on Facebook.

Pastor’s Corner is a column from Pastor Wynter Sturtevant III of the Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church.

The Church has moved locations, services are now held at the Bootjack Stompers Hall (located at 4662 Morman Bar Crossing) across from the Mariposa County Fairgrounds.

Time of service is at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday.

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