Week 2: Jesus Begins His Ministry
Matthew 10:5-15, Mark 6:7-15, Luke 9:1-6
We’ve read that Jesus calls us to take up our cross and to follow Him completely, surrendered. This is true of the call of the disciples, and true of you, too.
After He called them, then Jesus sent them out.
He sends them out to “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons” (Matthew 10:8a).
All the while going completely dependent on God alone, “you received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food” (Matthew 10:8b-9). We are called to build His Kingdom, not our own.
Jesus does not coddle His followers. He sends them into the ministry deep-end, doing hard things immediately. I think we often are too afraid to be tossed into things or to toss others in. We as people can do hard things, and even more so as Christians, can do harder things because we follow Jesus. We have the one true living God inside of us. Jesus lived a life we should live and follow, AND He promised to send the Helper to go with us.
Church, let us follow the call to be sent to do hard things. We do not get to dictate what is too much, or let busyness control our lives. We follow a God who calls us beyond our capacity so that we may depend on Him, trusting He will walk with us in all that He calls us to do.
