Commissioned by God

 

    Jesus gathered around him 12 apostles, each representing a tribe of Israel.  He invested into them.  He educated and trained them.  He then commissioned them to drive out evil spirits, heal people, and raise the dead through faith.  

    The apostles began among their own people to build confidence.  They were to give freely among God's people, not yet the Gentiles.  Change takes time.  They had been brought up a certain way.  To be commissioned to go out among the Gentiles doing miracles without building their confidence may had destroyed them before they even began.  Once they were ready, then they would move out among all people.  

    The disciples went out and took nothing in return for their good deeds.  They did not carry much with them as they traveled because they would stay in other people's homes and those people would take care of their needs while they took care of the village or city.  They would stay in a household that was worthy and they would bless all in the house with peace when they entered.   They were in complete reliance on God throughout their journey (mission).

    They were ordered not waste their time on those whom refused to believe in the good news.  It would get in their head and affect their ministry.  Even the commissioned have boundaries to keep them mentally and emotionally balanced.  God is the judge.  He will be the one that will judge the people who reject, ignore, or hinder God's follower's work.  You don't need to take that burden upon yourself.  He already said it would be worst for them than it was for Sodom and Gomorrah.

    They were sent out like innocent children in a world that hated everything they stood for.  Jesus had to give them some warnings to protect them.  Followers of Christ need to be prepared to face the legal system, no matter how scary or overwhelming it may be.  Be prepared to be betrayed by people that you thought you could trust.  Jesus was, by one of his apostles.  Be prepared to be hated for loving Jesus.  Endure it and you will be saved.

    Jesus told his disciples not to be worried if they were arrested because the Holy Spirit was with them.  It is good that Jesus gave them that order because being arrested for doing what is right could really mess with a person's head.  He told them not to worry about death because we all die, but through him there is salvation.  To follow in Jesus' footsteps is to live a life without fear.  People may be able to kill your body, but they can never kill your soul.  Plus, no one can kill you until it is your appointed time to face death.

    Jesus did not come to bring peace.  He came to highlight sin as sin.  This doesn't cause unity.  It causes division.  We have to love him more than we do the world to not let the division bother you.  It can be painful, but to follow Jesus is a life of sacrifice.  We will find out peace in Heaven.  There you will never lose your rewards for faithfulness.

Matthew 10