PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 9:1-9
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Take nothing for the journey…” (Luke 9:3)
The word ‘journey’ is the word for way, road, journey or path.
They were taking the ‘show on the road’ to the surrounding villages.
They were likely gone for a couple of days, before they returned (9:10).
As this was their first mission trip, he was teaching them a lesson.
‘Trust in God, he will empower you and give you what you need to succeed’.
Their light attire would also speak to the people – they’d be seen as locals.
They were their own people, not strangers from far off.
Ordinary people, their own people, empowered with an amazing message.
Word would spread about them and Jesus… word even reached Herod.
Keep it simple, keep it real, trust God and bless the people.
As ordinary Jesus followers, we are sent to our villages this way too.
We don’t need to bring anything but Jesus and his love.
Be like Jesus to whoever you meet on the way through your day.
And trust God to help you; you will be amazed what God will do!
PRAYER
Lord, everyday is a mission trip, an opportunity to bless the people I meet in Jesus’s name. Help me to keep it simple and real!
“If people do not welcome you, leave their town”. When there is mutual respect and people welcome you and are open to a conversation – there is hope of an opportunity to share – to testify to the hope that you have in Jesus. We are on good terms with our neighbours and there are many conversations – once in awhile there is something more spiritual – we hope that may continue to happen as we relate to them. We feel welcome and so we continue to talk. It is the same with people of other faiths – we have to respect them in order to have an audience. Condemnation (shaking the dust of your feet) is no place to start. Lord help me to be open and to follow through on opportunities to let other know about the hope you have given me – to testify in ways that your spirit can use to work in the hearts of those who do not know you Jesus!
I too am a living epistle proclaiming whose I am bey my words and deeds wherever I am. At times just by my presence and other times by my interaction with others. Even in my volunteering, I am a servant of the King by what I say to those who donate. Just volunteering is also a ministry communicating, sharing, welcoming, the regulars. And all this is done in the name of Christ. Wherever we/I am, I need to be His follower and share His good news so help me God to be an instrument of Your peace.
1 Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love;
where there is injury, your healing power,
and where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2 Make me a channel of your peace:
where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, only light,
and where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3 O, Spirit, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love with all my soul.
4 Make me a channel of your peace:
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving to all that we receive,
and in dying that we’re born to eternal life.