SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:1-9
OBSERVATION:
Jesus multiplies His ministry, and His message starts to spread. He gives authority and power to His followers to carry on His work, and they preach and demonstrate the good news of the Kingdom. Note that it is the good news of the Kingdom, and not just the good news of salvation. The Kingdom of God is the world as it ought to be, the world that God is rebuilding through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the world that we will one day inherit… paradise restored. For now our job is to tell people about this new world, and to show them how it works by living according to the world order. This is where living like Jesus (the King), according to the principles of the Kingdom (grace, mercy, love, humility, compassion, generosity, kindness, meekness, patience, etc.), fits in. It is the “way” of life that we to communicate and demonstrate. It seems weak, but it is actually powerful, a message that eventually turns Rome on its head. Herod cannot figure it out, the whole thing sounds strange to Him. Yet it is the only way, the only truth, the only life.
APPLICATION:
Do I want to be a messenger for this humble King? Am I prepared to face ridicule and rejection? Do I really believe in His message, and do I really believe that the way of His Kingdom is the best way, the only way? We have reduced the message to love, forgiveness and the hope of heaven, whereas Jesus comes to rebuild God’s world, and we are called to join Him. Its not just telling people about Jesus, it being like Jesus, and demonstrating the way of Jesus. It may seem weak to others, and we may face rejection and ridicule. But because we believe in His message, we are motivated to share it with and show it to others. He will empower and authorize us as His messengers if we surrender to Him, to being His missionaries.
PRAYER:
Lord, the message of the Kingdom – the world as it ought to be – motivates me! A world where You are #1, and where we live in love, humility, compassion, generosity, patience. I’m not there yet, but grant me Your Spirit-power to start living like this more and more, no matter what. Amen.
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
vs. 1 – Jesus is our one true mentor in leadership – do we as leaders today empower the people as He empowered the disciples? Do I /we actually believe and know the empowerment of Jesus in our own lives today? Do we embrace it? Do we live it?
vs. 3 – I am often guilty of saying “I am not equipped for that…”, “I am not trained nor do I have the proper ‘tools’ for that ministry….” Jesus clearly asks for nothing but themselves. No tools, no education, no training, no crutches – just themselves. All He is asking of me is me. He will provide all that I need to share the Good News.
vs. 5 – How much time and energy to I waste? My job is only to share the Good News and live as Jesus calls me to live. It is not my responsibility for how people respond – if they reject it – move on to another. How often do I allow those who do not understand to hinder what God has called me to do? How often in our churches is the Spirit work held back by those who resist what He is doing? Would Jesus wipe the dust off His feet? I wonder….. What about in my own life? “LORD, forgive me for the many times that I have not lived as You have called me to live. Forgive me for the many times that I have been chosen to remain silent (rejecting You), instead of being a voice for You. Forgive me LORD for the many times that I have not loved as You have called me to love. LORD, forgive me for the times when I have not embraced Your empowerment in my life. Change my heart Oh God. Make it ever true. Change my heart Oh, God, may I be like You…. In my life LORD, be glorified. LORD, I love to tell Your story, grant me the courage and unstoppable passion to live Your story. The greatest thing in all this life is knowing, loving and serving You! I thank You LORD for every opportunity I will have today to share Your Truth, to live and love for You.”
The work of Jesus is multiplied here. He sends out His disciples to proclaim the Kingdom. Where the Word was received, they stayed and where they were rejected, they left. Those who received the Word of the Lord also looked after the messenger of the Lord. God’s servant is worthy of his hire and shouldn’t have to worry about his daily bread. God will provide. They proclaimed the Good News or the Gospel – telling the people how to live for Jesus. The works even turned the heads of the leaders of the land.
Help me also Lord to proclaim Your Word through my actions. Help me to be an epistle, a living letter, seen and read by all those around me. The Gospel in one Word is Love, but that love comes out by how I live for You in my daily living showing the fruit of the Spirit by my gratitude. Thank You Lord for helping me each day. Thank You for Your Spirit since I serve a risen Savior.
Come, holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear in this glad hour.
Thou Who almighty art, now rule in every heart,
And ne’er from us depart, Spirit of power!