Matthew 10:1-15
10: And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Reflection
After inviting his disciples to take part in the work of God’s kingdom (Matt. 9:37–38), Jesus gave them an assignment. In Christ’s authority (10:1), they were to announce the dawning of the kingdom (v. 7). Just as the disciples’ relationship with Jesus came to them without any cost (v. 8), they were to make this announcement without any cost to those who would benefit from their labor (vv. 9–10). The disciples’ ministry, then, was to imitate Jesus and communicate the free grace of God that Jesus so clearly displayed in his own ministry.
Jesus’ disciples today are called to live and minster in a similar way. The character of their lives and the methods of their ministry to others should always reflect God’s joyful, gracious, and free forgiveness.
Romans 8:12-17
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Reflection
Before we received the good news about Jesus (the gospel), we could not do God’s will freely nor please him fully. But now, through the Spirit, believers have new affections (Rom. 8:5, 15) and can turn away from sinful behavior (v. 13; for a description of “deeds of the body,” see Gal. 5:19–21). God’s Spirit leads us (Rom. 8:14) and prompts us to call out to God as our “Father!” (v. 15)
God is not our stern judge but our friend and helper who has adopted us as his own. For the Christian, the Holy Spirit provides an inward sense that we are now the children of God (v. 16). If we are willing to suffer the trials that come with following Christ, there is the promise of a future inheritance (v. 17). The way of the cross is the only path to the glory awaiting those who will be “heirs with Christ.” The gospel provides strength for trials, not escape from them.
Psalm 18:31-34
31 For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?— 32 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. 33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. 34 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
Take some time to consider the specific difficulties you are facing at this point in your life, and ask God to give you the strength to face them with courage and faith.