A Prayer for Discipleship – Matthew 10: 24 -39 ~ The Cost of Discipleship
Matthew 10:24-39
10:24 “A disciple is not above the teacher nor a slave above the master;
10:25 It is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!
10:26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known.
10:27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.
10:28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
10:30 And even the hairs of your head are all counted.
10:31 So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
10:32 “Everyone, therefore, who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven,
10:33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.
10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,
10:36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
10:37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me,
10:38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
10:39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Teach us, gracious Lord,
day by day, the true meaning of discipleship.
We know that to follow you is to center our lives on Jesus Christ,
walking in his way and answering his call.
Show us how to:
to serve you as your deserve;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight without being deterred by wounds;
To persevere without seeking ease;
to labor faithfully without ask for reward.
We know that your call to discipleship
may not be the path we want to go but it is the
path you call us to follow.
When the journey of discipleship is difficult,
grant us courage and trust.
When your call leads us beyond our comfort,
give us the faith to follow where you lead.
We pray all these things through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
Adapted from the Book of Common Worship , PCUSA
