Text: A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. (Matthew 10:24-25)

Context: In the immediate context, Jesus was teaching his twelve disciples about what to expect (Matthew 10:1). He was teaching them that they were chosen, commissioned, that they were to be courageous, and that they were being sent into conflict. The four C’s: chosen, commissioned, courage, and conflict. 

Connection to Our Day: When I step back and reflect upon our day, and I try to understand the spiritual darkness overtaking the land, and I see utter stupidity conquer institution over institution, and I see my own nation possibly choosing socialism/Marxism to its own ruin, it grieves me beyond words. If anyone has ever traveled to countries who were/are socialist-Marxist, what you see is poverty, the elimination of human rights, corruption, deprivation, government, government, government, and human suffering. Sometimes I find myself wishing folks would actually travel and see how much of the rest of the world lives. Then they would understand why people long to become Americans. I don’t see folks forming crusades and marching into Venezuela, Russia, or China. But the sheeple just go on and ingest lies of politicians who fake their accents to pimp voters, and Satan smiles. It just seems some folks refuse to learn anything. They don’t think until it’s too late, and the enemies are not just at the gate, but have destroyed the gate and overtaken their home.

Encouragement/takeaway: Because the nature of the battle is primarily spiritual/theological, the Christian must have courage. Why? Because he/she is sent into conflict. Listen to Christ’s words again: “It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household” (Matthew 10:25). We undercut our efficacy if we minimize the overt spiritual battle we are in. Remember Paul’s words: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Believers are to expect slander, expect suffering, endure hardship, but serve faithfully in the midst of all that. That’s the process. That’s the design. Christ was crucified, dear reader. He wasn’t crowned with laurel leaves but mocked with thorns pressed into his scalp and spat upon by the mobs of the mindless. We need to get real about what’s in our faces and have courage amidst the conflict.