“When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
Matthew 10:19-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.10.19-20.NLT
The 10th chapter of Matthew recounts the specific message, authority, and instructions the 12 disciples will need as they travel throughout Israel, sharing the coming of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ.
Reflection
Part 1 focused on the message Jesus wanted the disciples to share and the authority he gave them to perform all kinds of amazing miracles to help people believe it.
Part 2 turns to the specific instructions Jesus gave the disciples for this journey.
The instructions: There are several to pay attention to. I have treated Jesus’ instructions as an FAQ when people have an assignment and are wondering about the details.
- Whom and where they are going: “Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: 'Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep.” Matthew 10:5-6 NLT. While Jesus later expands this to the entire world, this first trip is for the Children of Israel.
- What to take (or not take): “Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick.” Matthew 10:9-10 NLT. Jesus is saying to travel with the clothes on your back and the sandals on your feet. That’s it.
- What about food and shelter: “Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. “Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. When you enter the home, give it your blessing. If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing.” Matthew 10:10-13 NLT.
Reading this today, we consider this poor planning, and quite presumptuous, if someone showed up to share the good news of Christ with the expectation that the community would cover all the provisions for this individual or team.
Not so in Christ’s way of thinking for a simple reason: Hospitality to a messenger of God shows receptivity to the message of God’s Kingdom. Providing fellowship, shelter, and food is the minimum baseline for anyone who shares the good news of Christ with our community.
- Dealing with rejection or denied access to the community: “If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.” Matthew 10:14-15 NLT.
If you're not welcome, don’t stay and fight about it. Move on. Take the message of the Kingdom of God being near to those who want to hear about it.
These are the basic instructions Jesus gave to the disciples. In part 3, we will examine Christ’s guidance on dealing with opposition.
Encouragement
I appreciate Christ’s focus on reaching people who have a long history with God and are currently lost from him. There is something in that focus for all of us. Look for opportunities to connect those whom we know and love with the love of God.
Jesus relies on the hospitality of those wanting to know more about the Kingdom of God to care for the disciples. This is worth our reflection today. How can we open our hospitality to those seeking to share the good news of Christ?
A very practical focus of Christ is not to focus on being rejected by some. Move on to others who want to hear this amazing message of new life through Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for clear instructions on how to approach taking your message to other people:
- Go to people you know and love who are lost and separated from God.
- Go to them with a light footprint, not burdensome in any way.
- If they are receptive by offering any amount of hospitality, stay and share with them the love of Jesus Christ.
- If they are not receptive, it’s ok to move on to others who are.
Holy Spirit, please lead us to live this way as we share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
In your name, Jesus, we pray,
Amen
Ed McDowell