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DEVOTION
OPENING PRAYER
O God our Father, renew our spirits and draw our hearts to thyself, that our work may not be to us a burden but a delight: and give us such love to thee as may sweeten all our obedience. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
INTRODUCTION
Jesus is moving throughout Galilee proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God and healing the people. There is great need among the people and Jesus is bringing hope in his words and in his actions. He knows it will take more than just him to accomplish his mission of bringing the good news of the light of God to all people. Let’s read the scripture.
SCRIPTURE LESSON
Matthew 9:35-10:8 NIV
The Workers Are Few
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
REFLECTION
Jesus is aware of the needs of all people. He acts to relieve our suffering. He prays that God will provide in abundance to meet the needs. He appoints his disciples and empowers them to do the same work that he has been doing. The boundary he gives them, “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.” is not contrary to his later GREAT COMMISSION (Mt. 28:18-20) but is to give them a focus for their work. Notice he empowers all the disciples equally to respond to the needs of the people even though they will all desert him and one will betray him. Jesus empowers all disciples to act on his behalf; it is our choice as to how to act. Do we trust Jesus’ call upon our lives, and can we trust that he is with us in difficult situations of service? Will he provide for the overwhelming needs we face?
I believe the answer is always YES – IF WE WILL BEGIN IN PRAYER. We must be faithful to call upon the Lord. That calling out is not for Jesus to come “Fix It” but for Jesus to lead us. We must respond and act in obedience to him.
Always proclaim his message, “The Kingdom of God has come near,” knowing that we have freely received grace and mercy for God and we are to share God’s grace and mercy freely with all people.
CLOSING PRAYER
You have been in communion with your Lord. Go forth now in the strength and assurance that the Lord Jesus Christ goes with you. AMEN.
Blessings,
Pastor Tom
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