We Are Not Told Everything Right Away And For This We Should Be Most Grateful
When Jesus Christ sent out these disciples to preach, they were also told to heal the sick.
Jesus Christ is against sickness, and for wholeness.
Jesus is against fear. He wants people to have saving reassuring faith.
Jesus is against sin, and does not wish to see people lost, sore, scared and scarred. He wants to see people found, healed, secure and whole.
On this brief mission they are to take nothing which would hinder or hamper their ministry. They are to be free and mobile and uncluttered. This only applied for a limited period of ministry. At other times they are told to take what they would require.
His instructions are simple. When you go to a town, if people invite you in, offering you hospitality, remain there for the duration of your ministry in that area. Don’t go running around to see if someone else will offer you better food.
Don’t go looking for someplace more comfortable. Such activity can often be a sign of anxiety, discontent and greed.
Jesus, having called these men, and having given them power and authority, wanted them to trust Him to provide for the physical needs of His servants.
He is teaching, “The way you live, will reflect what you believe.” Now, there is a lesson we so need to learn today.
If you are not received and people will not hear your preaching, nor receive your ministry, leave that town. Move on. Shake off the dust from your feet. It will be a testimony against them.
Jesus knew what it was to be welcomed, wanted and received, and He knew what it was to be rejected, and told to go away.
Off they go in obedience, preaching and healing. He realises that not everyone will receive, but offers no explanation. We are not told everything right away.
I am so glad that everything was not revealed to me some 40 years ago, otherwise I might never have continued. Neither Peter nor Paul knew what lay ahead of them as they served and led and preached and taught.
It can be dangerous to understand what is going to happen to us too soon. We simply follow Him in obedience and trust Jesus totally to provide and supply.
Sandy Shaw.
Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled “Word from Scotland” on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.
His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.
Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com
Tags: Healing, Inspiration, Leadership, motivation, Philosophy, Psychology, Religion, spiritual
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