Matthew 10:40-42 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 10:40-42 on biblegateway.com
Verse 40"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Verse 41Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; Verse 42and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."
Devotion
All that in only a cup of water! Jesus’ instructions to the twelve acknowledge that they won’t always be welcome, that their message will divide families into “us” and “them.” Service and caring, hospitality to all, is not always welcome. Even within ourselves we experience that struggle. Not everyone wants a cup of water to be shared with others. When others look different, believe differently, don’t fit the mold and images we have, we can become reluctant to share. We’re likely to give a cup of water to a prophet, and yes, a righteous person. But the little ones, those who are easily ignored, those who look different from us, those who identify other than us, those little ones we struggle to serve, to provide that cool cup of water. But in Christ, grace has been shown to us. How might this grace open and lead us to share a cup of cold water with the little ones we are reluctant to encounter?
Prayer
God of grace, you fill our cup with your love and grace. Lead us to share our cup with a thirsty world. When others would withhold that cup, give us the courage to step out and share it with all your children. In Jesus name. Amen.