"Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road." (Luke 10:4, ESV)
The message to the Twelve when Jesus sends them out (Matthew 10) is basically the same message given to the seventy. "Take nothing with you." Why would Jesus ask them not to take anything with them? The deeper answer is this; the further you go with Jesus, the less you can take with you. Those who follow Jesus the longest find that the simpler you live life, the less baggage you have to carry. Another way of saying this is that things become less important the longer you walk with Jesus. On the practical side, Jesus showed them that ministry is always by faith. All of it! You have to trust God to make a way for you. There would be a day when Jesus tells them to take all these things, but they must learn to trust first. He also wanted them to be able to move unencumbered. Since they would be trusting others to provide for them, you don't want to carry lots of stuff that says, "I can take care of myself." Jesus wanted those, who received His grace, to be able to sow back into those who delivered the Gospel to them. The worker is worth his wages. God takes care of his own. He may do it through others, but He takes care of His own.
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"Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" (Luke 10:36, ESV)
A lawyer comes to test Jesus, "Which is the greatest commandment?" Jesus answers him with a question, "What do you think it is?" To which the lawyer replies, "Love God and love each other." Great answer, Jesus says. "Now go do it." Obviously, this lawyer had a guilty conscience because now he attempts to justify himself. He asks more questions to avoid applying the truth he knows he has been ignoring. So many live in that realm. The truth has pricked the heart, but they create questions designed for one purpose: to keep from having to change. It is here that Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan. He is now turning the tables on the lawyer and is testing him. The lawyer had the right question but the wrong application. Our scripture starts with, "Who is my neighbor?" but Jesus changes it to "What kind of neighbor are you?" Jesus changes the question from "What kind of people do I want to love? To: How can I love the people God places before me?" Each of us has a little bit of 'lawyer' in us. Let's 'see' the person in front of us and learn to love well those God places before us. Agape love seeks the good of others and often at a price or sacrifice. "Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies." (Hebrews 13:3, NLT)
As Paul closes out the Book of Hebrews, he leaves a list of thoughts for the church to consider. One of those is to remember those imprisoned for their faith and who are mistreated for the same. We do not do this much in our country and communities, for we still live in a reasonably free nation, so persecution is not on our minds. But the exhortation should still strike our hearts personally, knowing that others in the world are suffering terribly because of their testimony of Jesus Christ. The Passion Translation reads, "No matter what, make room in your heart to love every believer." (Hebrews 13:1, TPT) One of the ways we can remember those imprisoned and mistreated is by prayer. If you think prayer does not matter, read Acts 5:19 and Acts 12:13. The Saints were praying, and God answered in response to their prayers. Some people in our country are being mistreated because of their faith. Their jobs are on the line; they are passed over for raises; they are not treated favorably. Remember those people in your prayers. Ask for justice! May God act favorably toward them. The key to Hebrew 13:3 is found in the word 'remember." The Apostle Paul uses it twice. As one who has suffered, his appeal to remember the persecuted is personal. "Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, ... he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, ... while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father... in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem." (2 Chronicles 34:1–3, ESV)
Josiah was eight when He began to reign as king. That is huge! He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. That is even bigger! He began to seek the God of David! And in his twelfth year, he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of idols and pagan worship. All of these things by the age of 20! We must not 'sell' our youth short by despising their age. God can do amazing things with a life that is submitted to Him and understands their purpose. Part of our job as parents is to make sure this happens. Yet when you read Josiah's story, you find that he did not have this kind of support and upbringing. But he did have a very strong mother in the Lord, and righteous priests surrounding him. God is raising up young people who have a great heart for Him. They desire righteousness and to walk in His ways. As adults, we must cheer them on, be their best support and be proactive in helping them succeed. Eight years old! That is Super Church age. Is it possible we have kings among us??? "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?" (John 6:9, ESV)
So many adults look at children and think, "What do they have to offer?" What they are saying is that children are consumers. They consume our time, money, energy, and goods. That is who they are by God's design. Yet Andrew spots a young boy with five loaves and two fish. Now look at who is consuming/taking! This young boy hits the 'jackpot!' He gets to offer up to Jesus all he has! He does it gladly! This boy supplies Jesus with the material for His next miracle. How exciting it must have been for this young boy on this miraculous day! He was making history with Jesus! Five loaves and two fish is a small price to pay for such a big miracle. Often we hold in our hands the very thing that is key to our miracle. It just takes someone to see what's available and the holder to offer it. Jesus can take the smallest of offerings and make it into something big that blesses multitudes. The key is to be ready to release it into His hands, just as this small boy was ready. Miracles happen when we take what is in our hands and put it in Jesus' hands. Many people call this the miracle of the loaves and fishes. But, it might be better titled: the miracle of the young boy's lunch. "Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah." (1 Samuel 16:13, ESV)
David was a young man when he encountered the Prophet Samuel. Samuel was on a mission from God to find and anoint the next King of Israel. Most agree that David was a teenager when he met the prophet. A word to parents, do not look down on any of your children— they may be the next person that God is eager to anoint for a divine task. As David was brought in from the flock to stand with the rest of his brothers, Samuel immediately recognized him as the called and anointed one to lead Israel. Samuel then anointed him in the midst of his brothers. God will often anoint people in the presence of their peers so that everyone knows who it is that God has chosen. More hope for parents: When Samuel released the anointing upon David, the Spirit of the Lord rushed David from that day forward! What that means is that David was filled with the Wind of God. The breath of God entered him powerfully and remained with him all the days of his life! May the anointing of God come upon our children, and our children's children, for all the days of their lives. Yes, Lord! Rush upon our children! “Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.” (1 Samuel 3:1, ESV)
This first verse of chapter three tells us much about Samuel. It gives great hope to families that keep Christ at the center of their home life. 'The boy Samuel' served the Lord. Powerful, encouraging words! The Hebrew word for boy speaks of a child between newborn and puberty. Most people guess that Samuel was in the puberty age range. But look at what he was doing! He was 'ministering to the Lord.' He was doing work in the Tabernacle under Eli, the priest. It was a routine ministry with spiritual significance that young Samuel was doing. We also know that, as of this time, Samuel did not know the voice of the Lord. Parents should always be directing their children into routine ministry with spiritual significance. A devotional life is an example of a routine ministry with spiritual significance. By doing so, parents position their children to encounter God. Hannah, Samuel's mother, dedicated Samuel to the Lord. She positioned him under the priest to learn to serve the Lord. In this service, Samuel heard the voice of the Lord and began to grow as the prophet of God. Parents and grandparents, do not underestimate the capacity of your child to serve God at a young age and to learn to hear His voice! "Honor and enjoy your Creator while you're still young, Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes, Before your vision dims and the world blurs And the winter years keep you close to the fire. In old age, your body no longer serves you so well.
Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world. You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-song." (Ecc 12:1-4; The Message Bible) When we are young, we do not understand these words though somehow we know they are important. When we are old, we understand them all too well, and we realize just how important they are. When we are young, we never dream or think about life being difficult or our bodies wearing out. When we are old, the reality of our text comes to life, and we long for the days of our youth, but they will not come. Therefore the best thing we can do is to instruct youth to honor God and enjoy our Creator. Flee foolishness! Shun evil! Do good with all your heart! Listen to Solomon's words: "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14, ESV) "And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven." (Mark 8:5, ESV)
So often, the starting point of God with us when we are looking for a miracle or answer to prayer is, "What do you have?" Jesus always starts with that question, and with the little we have, before changing it into the answer to prayer or the answer to a need. Faith often begins with the little bit we hold in our hands and our willingness to give it to God. Elijah encountered a widow with just a little bit of flour and a little bit of oil. She was about to make her and her son their last meal when Elijah asked for the bread that the last little bit of meal and oil would make. On the surface, this seems almost cruel that Elijah would ask for their last meal. But the widow's miracle was in her hand. What she possessed had to be put into the hand of God for her and her son's miracle to manifest. The promise was: If you do this, your oil and flour will never run out until the drought is over. Jesus asked for the seven loaves and a few fish from which thousands would be fed. The miracle was in the hands of a willing few that were willing to share. What do you have in your hand that is miracle material? Open your hand and heart to God and see what He will do! "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country." (Luke 4:14, ESV)
My prayer for you today is that you become so filled with the Holy Spirit that reports will start coming to me about what you are doing in the Kingdom of God. I pray that reports of the breaking out of the Holy Spirit would come to me from others about you! "Did you hear about the breaking out of the Holy Spirit at the Franklin home?" "No! But did you hear about the breakout of the Holy Spirit at church?" When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit came upon Him...and stayed! He was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit and was tempted by the devil. He overcame and returned in the power of the Holy Spirit. He did not just return. He returned and started tearing down strongholds of darkness, healed the sick, and cast out demons. He was releasing the goodness of God everywhere He went! That is what Holy Spirit desires to do through us—release the goodness of God! When you allow the Holy Spirit to work through you and touch other people's lives, they will not remain silent! They will have to tell somebody what God just did for them. When that happens, reports about you will spread! That is a good thing! Holy Spirit, may we cooperate with what you want to do! |
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