Daily Bible Reading from BibleStudyTools March 4, 2014 - The Message Matthew 10:1-25 1 The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives. 2 This is the list of the twelve he sent: Simon (they called him Peter, or Rock), Andrew, his brother, James, Zebedees son, John, his brother, 3 Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, the tax man, James, son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, 4 Simon, the Canaanite, Judas Iscariot (who later turned on him). 5 Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: 6 Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. 7 Tell them that the kingdom is here. 8 Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously. 9 Dont think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. 10 You dont need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light. 11 When you enter a town or village, dont insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave. 12 When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. 13 If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. 14 If they dont welcome you, quietly withdraw. Dont make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. 15 You can be sure that on Judgment Day theyll be mighty sorry - but its no concern of yours now. 16 Stay alert. This is hazardous work Im assigning you. Youre going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so dont call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. 17 Dont be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation - just because you believe in me. 18 Dont be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, theyve done you - and me - a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! 19 And dont worry about what youll say or how youll say it. The right words will be there; 20 the Spirit of your Father will supply the words. 21 When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. 22 There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But dont quit. Dont cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. 23 It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before youve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived. 24 A student doesnt get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesnt make more money than his boss. 25 Be content - pleased, even - when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, Dungface, what can the workers expect?
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 11:28:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015