We Are All Missionaries

 

 Matthew 9:36-10:8

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.

As we look at our world today, we see much the same as what has gone on since Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden. No reason to panic. We need workers to reap the harvest now as much as ever.  Jesus chose twelve to be the leaven in his loaf, and indeed, over the centuries billions of people have accepted his Word and his Way. All of us are called to be missionaries though the temptation is, "Let George or Mary do it." Why NOT me?  Freely I have received, can I not freely give? May take this short passage seriously and find ways to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead and drive out demons.

Bro, Rene

Dear God, thank you for reminding me that my life is not for me alone, but to help others less fortunate than I. Open my eyes to see and my heart to give. Amen.