COURAGE TO GO WITH NOTHING
- DAY 115
- FAITH FILES: THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS
- SCRIPTURES:
“These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
Matthew 10:5-8 nkjv
I never thought of the disciples as courageous people but this study has changed my mind. Yesterday we talked about how courageous they were to follow Jesus (click here to read)and today we find that Jesus is sending them on an assignment. The instructions were simple.
Preach, heal the sick, raise the dead, perform other miraculous works and don’t charge for it. This alone takes courage. Doing the assignment God has sent you takes faith. A fearful heart will shudder at the thought of confronting demons and raising the dead because a couple things can go wrong and this thought can fuel the fear of failure. But these men accepted their assignment confidently.
The first part of this call is not what I found most daunting. As we read further we discover the rest of the instruction.
“Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.” -Matthew 10:9-13 NKJV
Let me break it down. In essence, Jesus asked these apostles who left thriving careers to follow Him, to leave their hometown and go to new places to speak to them about the kingdom for free…
BUT…
They are not allowed to take cash with them; they cannot take change of clothes or even pack a bag, they cannot rent a house or lodge at a hotel; their sleeping arrangement was to squat with whosoever would have them. And that’s not all, persecutions are part of the deal.
“But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Matthew 10:17-20 NKJV
Did I mention that they’d be arrested and even killed for this assignment? By a show of hands, how many of you reading this will take this offer? How many of us will accept to be broke, homeless, cloth less, persecuted and almost killed. Not me. But these disciples went.
Beloved, if God took away all the luxuries and even basic amenities of life how faithful would you be? Will you still serve Him with joy and gladness or would you quit? Let me not act like I won’t even complain because I will. I have been in situations where everything wasn’t as perfect as I expected and I nagged and complained. I didn’t have an apartment of my own at the time and I was staying with family that was happy to have me yet, I nagged my way through, even with clothes on my back, money in my account and food when I wanted.
Already Provided For
Some of us are so used to comfort that it becomes a crotch that hinders obedience. I’m not saying God is calling you to poverty, I’m saying don’t let comfort stop you from purpose. I’m saying that if God sends you with nothing, it’s because He has already provided everything as He did with the disciples.
“And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.”” -Luke 22:35 NKJV
Take no thought of what you will eat or drink, God has all your needs covered and even if you are sent with nothing, let it be known that as you go, He will provide.
Shalom
