Weekly Memory Verse:
God was in Christ, making peace between the world and Himself...And He gave us this message of peace.
2 Corinthians 5:19 (NCV)
Meditation Thought:
Doing God's work does not make me safe. Am I willing to put everything on the line to join God in His work?
Today's Reading - Matthew 10:1-23 (CEV) Choose another translation
Jesus called together his twelve disciples. He gave them the power to force out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and sickness. The first of the twelve apostles was Simon, better known as Peter. His brother Andrew was an apostle, and so were James and John, the two sons of Zebedee. Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus were also apostles. The others were Simon, known as the Eager One, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.
Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: Stay away from the Gentiles and don't go to any Samaritan town. Go only to the people of Israel, because they are like a flock of lost sheep. As you go, announce that the kingdom of heaven will soon be here. Heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, and force out demons. You received without paying, now give without being paid. Don't take along any gold, silver, or copper coins. And don't carry a traveling bag or an extra shirt or sandals or a walking stick. Workers deserve their food.
So when you go to a town or a village, find someone worthy enough to have you as their guest and stay with them until you leave. When you go to a home, give it your blessing of peace. If the home is deserving, let your blessing remain with them. But if the home isn't deserving, take back your blessing of peace. If someone won't welcome you or listen to your message, leave their home or town. And shake the dust from your feet at them. I promise you that the day of judgment will be easier for the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. So be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves. Watch out for people who will take you to court and have you beaten in their meeting places. Because of me, you will be dragged before rulers and kings to tell them and the Gentiles about your faith. But when someone arrests you, don't worry about what you will say or how you will say it. At that time you will be given the words to say. But you will not really be the one speaking. The Spirit from your Father will tell you what to say.
Brothers and sisters will betray one another and have each other put to death. Parents will betray their own children, and children will turn against their parents and have them killed. Everyone will hate you because of me. But if you remain faithful until the end, you will be saved. When people mistreat you in one town, hurry to another one. I promise you that before you have gone to all the towns of Israel, the Son of Man will come.
(Today's reading came from the Contemporary English Version)
4 comments:
Hmmmm....I somehow don't like this job description! I can't even imagine being in their position. When I think about going on just a short-term mission trip, in kind of freaks me out. Jesus really was sending them out like lambs to a slaughter, and they did it! I've studied Paula and his journeys, but I forget the disciples had their work cut out for them too.
As I was praying through a state in my life I asked my father why it seemed like the whole world was all of a sudden attacking me. He said "Because you chose to do the the hardest job in the world." "You chose to follow Christ. And now Satan is against you. He wasn't before."
Satan doesn't attack unless he needs to. He's cunning and wise and he knows who his enemies are.
He studies our movement and our actions. He knows when to play just the right card (that he had up his sleeve) to make us reconsider the hand that we were dealt. Hoping that we'll just throw it away. His plan is not to just mess with you and your life.
Satan wants you to enjoy your life, so that you won't join the fight against him.
The disciples really did put it all on the line to join God. After reviewing what is required I would have to say this is very scary to me and really requires total faith and a huge commitment to Christ. I would like to be able to say "sign me up" but really need to evaluate how willing I am to put everything on the line. This really challenges me.
Wow talk about an eye opener. Considering the costs are you willing? As the scripture says “Everyone will hate you because of me. But if you remain faithful until the end, you will be saved.” Everyone, not just some or a few, but everyone. Those are not great odds. However Ephesians 6:10-18 comes to mind. Put on your armor daily.
Then later in the scripture he reminds us “You received without paying, now give without being paid.” Now don't that just give you a kick & make you feel obligated, I know I do. When the scripture tells us “Workers deserve their food.” I think they are telling us that a laborer deserves his rewards, which may not be earthly.
As to my brother's comments, I really feel you. My experience has been when Satan has tried to stop me the most has been when I was close to a blessing/breakthrough. Some of the most awesome God moments for me have been preceded by an obstacle. I will end today with Ephesians 6:10-13 “10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
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