A Cup Of Cold Water Series

1. “Starfish Story” originally written by Loren Eiseley.

"One day a man was walking along the beach, when he noticed a boy picking up starfish and throwing them into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “Excuse me, but what are you doing?"

The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The sun is rising and tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

The man laughed to himself and said, “But there's too many starfish on this beach. You can’t possibly make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean. Then, turning to the man, he said, " 'I made a difference to that one.' “

2. “Free Hugs” Story

The most profound part of their two-hour hugging experiment was when a middle-aged man received a hug and began to cry while one of the women embraced him. She asked him, “Sir, can I ask why you are crying?” Brushing back the tears, he replied, “It has just been so long since I was given a hug by anyone. I forgot what it was like.”

3. Story about Listening

Listening to a friend and just did not have anything to say. It didn't seem right to give my opinion just words of comfort. And I admitted that I felt bad that I didn’t have anything concrete in which to solve his relationship problem and he said, “you know, of all my friends, you’re the only one who really spent time just to listen. And I think all i needed to know was that someone cared enough to just feel the pain along with me. To me, that is so much more valuable than advice.”

'I made a difference to that one.' “ I forgot what it was like. I needed to know was that someone cared enough to just feel the pain along with me. In each of these stories: we have seemingly minimal acts that had great impact. As we will see, this is thematic within our Gospel text today.

In Jesus’ mission discourse here in Matthew 10, he begins with giving his disciples authority to do the things he was doing. After giving them this authority he reveals to them the cost. There will be persecution. You will be sheep among wolves. On top of this there will be division of families. Your very own family will likely reject you or disown you. The message of the Gospel can be polarizing and divisive for those who reject it.

There is sacrifice for those who follow Jesus. We talked about this little last week, how you don’t have to lose your life in the very literal sense to lose your life. The disciple’s lives would be on the line for sure, but first, life as they knew it would most likely be tested significantly. But in all of this Jesus assures his disciples of reward.

You are not doing this for nothing.

And this is where the small things with great impact theme comes in. But more than that, this relates to identity. Jesus says those who receive you receive me. Disciples of Jesus have their identity intertwined with him. They are ambassadors of him. Bringers of Jesus to others. What a responsibility, right?

And Jesus goes on to conclude: “And 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.”

So what does this mean? What is the significance of a cold cup of water and whom are “these little ones” Jesus is referring to?

Well, you remember two Sundays ago when Jesus had compassion on the crowd because they were like sheep without a shepherd?

Yeah those folks. Those folks are “these little ones.” It’s certainly no coincidence that Jesus gives his disciples authority to do the same things he’s doing - heal the sick - drive out unclean spirits - because there are so many who are like sheep without a shepherd. And the Good Shepherd is here to lay down his life for his sheep. To be that sacrificial lamb. To be the Lord that dies and rises again to gather all sheep under his care.

A cold cup of water may seem like a small thing. In fact, it is. This may be precisely the point. Even the smallest, seemingly insignificant act of love or mercy could have a lasting impact upon someone else. Whether it be satiating the thirst of of one of these little ones, extending hugs to unsuspecting strangers, or lending a listening ear to a neighbor in need. Sometimes we make being a disciple of Jesus too difficult. Too grandiose. We imagine sidewalk-conversions and Billy Graham crusades. But discipleship can include much smaller displays of Jesus’ love toward others.