The Daily Dose

Lowly in heart

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Rest!  It’s a good thing!  It’s different than peace because peace is something that God gives, but rest is something we enter into, on purpose.  Today’s scripture says When you go to Jesus, on purpose, then He will give you rest.  Glory to God!  With all the struggle and anxieties in life, it’s so wonderful to have a place of rest, and that place is in Christ Jesus.  A rest that we don’t have to wait for, we can enter in immediately. Whenever we are feeling the uneasiness of day to day life, we can easily enter in by getting quiet and submitting (unloading) everything to Him.

But how?  How do you unload these burdens and get into rest, that God kind of rest?   Jesus says in this passage “take My yoke on and learn from me.”  A yoke?  That sounds like more work.  A yoke is not a reference we commonly use today, but in the days when Jesus was speaking, everyone could understand this picture.  It was used to team up a pair of oxen and then attach them to a plow so they could work together to pull it.  You may be saying, “that doesn’t sound very restful to me.”  However, Jesus said, “get into the yoke with me and I will make your labor/burden easy and light”.  He’s saying that I don’t have to struggle through life when I have attached my life to His, because when the hard times come, He pulls the load and carries the weight.  My part is to enter into His rest by submitting everything to Him and let Him do the work of turning things around for good.

There’s only one question left and that is how do I get into the yoke with Jesus?  He answers that question for us.  He says, “learn of me and of my gentle and lowly (humble) heart.”  So by becoming a person of humility, submitted to God and His word I can then enter into His rest.  By turning all the care over and taking on God’s Word (Jesus) instead, I then enter in.  This is where our relationship with the Lord grows.  When we “get in the yoke” with Him, we are spending time with Him, talking to Him and walking with Him.

Today I want to encourage you that no matter what you are going through, it doesn’t have to be a struggle.  Enter into the Father’s rest by getting into the “yoke” of life with Jesus.  Humble yourself by submitting to and obeying His Word then apply it to all your circumstances.  Let the force of God’s Word do the work on your troubles while you take a rest.

Today’s scripture reading:  Matthew 11:20-30

20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 

21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 

22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 

23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 

24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 

26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 

27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

You are greater!

_{“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  Matthew 11:11}

John the Baptist.  Jesus said he was the greatest of all prophets.  In fact, Jesus said he was the greatest of those ever born up until that time.  The reason was because he was the one who prepared the way for the Lord’s ministry here on the Earth.  John was the forerunner, the one who announced Jesus to the world.  He told the people: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the word.” (see John 1)  John was the greatest prophet because he was the last one before the coming one, Jesus.

The second part of the verse is the astounding part.  Even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.  Jesus was not talking about those who had died and gone to heaven.   When He referred to the “kingdom of heaven,”  He was talking about heaven on earth, after his death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.  He was speaking about those who would receive salvation through His blood sacrifice to become children of God. Jesus brought the kingdom of heaven to our world in His salvation.

In today’s world it looks like this truth has slipped away.  We, like the prophets, have the power of the living Spirit of God on the inside of us.  We have been raised up to sit together with Him in heavenly places.  We were once dead, but now we are brought to life through Christ Jesus, yet, the world seems to be in the worst shape ever. What is going on?

Before salvation came into the world, God had chosen one person at a time to give His message to throughout the ages. They were never well-dressed, smooth talking, politician, or well known religious leader.  Then He sent John the Baptist, a rough around the edges man out in a deserted place.  He was bold in his witness that Jesus was coming.  He wasn’t afraid to speak up and speak out against anyone who was coming against his message. 

Now, God is speaking today and to those who some could consider “less important”.  We sometimes get the idea that if we can just get the right politician in office, or if we can just have that great pastor come and preach, then the world could be fixed.  The truth is that politicians and pastors are not the solution to the world’s problems. God’s message of salvation is the only hope for the world and we are His messengers to bring this solution.

Even though you may not have a well-known, popular platform, you still have a voice and the Word of the LORD has come to you in His scripture.  It is now your turn to tell that “good news” that Jesus, your Messiah and Savior of the world, has come and He took away the sin of the world.  You are greater than all the prophets of old because you have that great salvation that they were waiting for.

Today I want to encourage you to be the voice of one telling the message that the kingdom of heaven has come. You are the voice now so share the salvation message wherever you are in life.  Some may accept it readily and others may just listen for now, but seeds of God’s Word are being planted and He will send the next person along to water them.  Soon new baby Christians will be born all around us and the whole world will know that Jesus is LORD!

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 11:1-19

1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 

3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 

5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 

6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 

8But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft ? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 

9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 

10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’

11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 

14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 

15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 

17 and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

A lot or a little

“Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

Rewards.  If your anything like me, heavenly rewards seem far away and almost undiscernible.  I mean, what are the rewards in heaven?  Most people don’t even know what that looks like. I know there are crowns.  The Bible talks about 5 different crowns, in fact.  The Victor’s crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of life and the crown of glory.  Those rewards are awesome, but certainly these are for the really great ministers that are reaching the world every day??  Or are they?

Today’s passage talks about receiving rewards, just because you received others.  For example, if you receive and accept the words of the gospels, you are receiving the disciples.   Jesus said that is just like receiving Him and our Heavenly Father and you will receive their rewards.  What about the prophets?  If we receive God’s prophets and the word they gave in the Old Testament, we will also receive their reward?  That sounds amazing!

Jesus said there are even rewards in simple acts of kindness such as giving a cup of cold water.  So, how do you know who to receive and who to be kind to?  Well, first of all kindness should be to all people.  God loves all people, so we are to love all people.  Second, we should receive God’s Word and the prophets who wrote it as the final authority on every subject.  Even though there were men that wrote the words, they were people of God that God spoke the message through.  It is the true and living Word!

Lastly, righteous people of today.  This gets a little sketchy in my mind.  Certainly, this takes some discernment.  There are many who claim to be righteous today but have gotten off track.  Maybe you do not agree with a message that the person proclaiming the message gives.  This does not have to be complicated.  Righteous people are children of God.  Not perfect people, because there are none perfect.  Just children of God and to receive them is to love them.  When we love all people as Jesus told us to, we will receive our eternal rewards.  To sum it all up:  Love all people unconditionally so they can know God and experience Him in their everyday life.

Today I want to encourage you to think about heavenly rewards.  Obviously, God wants us to know about them because He talks about them in His word.  Next, walk out simple acts of kindness wherever you go.  Lastly, love people because they are God’s creation and love is the way to draw people to Him.  Your reward will be great and best of all, you will get to hear Him say: “Well done!”

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 10:40-42

40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 

41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 

42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Find life

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:39

Have you ever wondered in your lifetime why certain activities didn’t bring you the satisfaction you expected them to?  Have you ever thought about why the new job or new home didn’t fill the void as you thought they would?  In today’s reading, Jesus tells us how to find that fulfillment in life that we all seek and sometimes never find.  It is losing yourself in Him.

Sometimes life feel like we are chasing after the next big event or new accessory.  Somehow in life many of us have gotten the idea that some material thing or grand experience can fill the emptiness that each person has on the inside.  The problem with that is our Heavenly Father created that spot inside of every person for Himself to fill.  That is why when we get that new relationship or new car, it fills the gap for a little while, but the newness quickly wears off and we are now looking for the next new thing.

Thank goodness the Lord’s mercies are renewed every morning and His lovingkindness continues for ever (Lamentations 3:22).  He can bring joy into each day you are alive in this world simply by putting His plans and agenda before your own.  In fact, the verse today says that you must lose your live in Him so you can find it.  When you put away the things and desires that you think will bring happiness, and instead, seek after what God has in His heart for you to do, then you will live a life of total satisfaction.  The reason is because He created you to accomplish what was in His heart, when He made you.

Today I want to encourage you to spend some quiet time with your Heavenly Father before you start your day.  Get alone with Him and ask Him to fill up your heart with the things He made you to accomplish today, this week and your lifetime.  Then make a habit to do this every morning and get the plan from the Head. Soon you will be walking out the good mission He created you to do.  Then and only then will you find joy, satisfaction and fulfillment that you never have had before.  Lose your life today so you can find what life is all about.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 10:34-39

34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 

35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 

36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 

37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 

38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 

39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Indestructible Soul

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Matthew 10:28

I have an indestructible soul.  You do too if you received salvation through the blood of Jesus.  If you have not, well, your soul will still exist forever, but it will be separated from the One who created and loves you?  It is a very grim picture. Many people never consider where they will spend their forever, but have no doubt, we will all spend it somewhere.

In today passage, Jesus is telling his disciples not to be afraid of people, because even the evilest person can only take your life.  He cannot touch your eternal being.  That’s the part of you that lives on the inside of that body you possess.  We should, however, fear the One true God that can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Today we know that God doesn’t want any person to go to hell.  Hell was created for Satan and his demonic forces.  But hell is a real place and those who reject the gift of salvation that God freely gave through the blood and resurrection of Jesus, will spend their eternity there with Satan and his demons.

Since it is not God’s will for people to go there, Jesus told His disciples to talk openly about what Jesus told them in secret and to preach from the rooftops what was whispered in their ears.  Jesus wanted the whole earth to know that God loves the world so much that He sent Jesus to rescue all people from the eternal separation caused by sin.

Jesus then tells the disciples that they are more valuable to God than many sparrows.  God created the birds, and not one falls without God knowing about it.  God even knows the number of hairs on our heads and everything else about us.  He knows that because He created us to be His children and He loves us as our Father.

Today I want to encourage you to think about how valuable you are to God.  Consider that He is your Father and wants to be close to you.  He wants to walk each day in communion with you and He wants you to know how precious you are to Him.  Your soul is indestructible, so ensure today that you will spend your life after life with Him in all His glory!  If you have never received His gift of salvation through Jesus, pray this prayer today and Jesus will come into your life and change you for all eternity.

God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new.  I know Your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 10:27-33

27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 

33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Jesus was in a small group

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Matthew 10:1

Who are you walking through life with?  Your family?  Close friends?  Church members?  Hopefully we all have loved ones that we connect with day to day.  Jesus gave us the example of walking through life with others in His concept of small groups.  He chose twelve men to walk through life with to lead, teach, encourage, build up, and serve.

Today’s scripture starts with Jesus calling and empowering His twelve disciples/apostles.  This became His small group.  In this small group, Jesus taught these men for three years and He walked through life with them. They not only served in Jesus’ ministry, but they served each other including Jesus as the leader.  Their connection became so great that after Jesus left, the disciples picked up and continued that ministry so that it goes on even today. 

The small group concept continued after Jesus’ ascension into heaven when the New Testament church began having meetings in their homes.  They could not go to the synagogue to meet and talk about Jesus without seriously offending someone, so they met daily with each other, caring and serving one another.

Over the years the church has grown and become one of the largest organizations in the entire world.  Since the local church has grown and our focus in life tends to get distracted with keeping up in the world, it seems like this is a good time to reestablish small groups for accountability and support.  Even though you may have members of your church that you are close to, small groups are a way to get new believers connected so they don’t fall away when pressure comes.  Small groups can also become community outreach groups and neighborhood support groups.  It is an excellent way to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world!

Today I want to encourage you if you are not part of a small group, get involved with one.  If you don’t know how or where, maybe start one of your own.  You can start a Bible study group, an activity group (hiking, golfing) or a community service group.  If you are new in the faith, ask the person who led you to Jesus if they would be willing to co-lead a group with you to keep you on track as you learn.  When leading an activity or serving group, it may be more about the project or activity. Be sure to include a time of prayer, prayer requests, and some discussion of what life is dealing to people in the group.  You can do some scripture encouragement and some worship, too.  There is really no set structure, just so the focus is connecting closely with others and walking through life together.  Remember this is God’s group, you are only leading or participating in His group.  Make Him the focus and encourage all who join to walk closer with Him and other people.

Today’s scripture reading:  Matthew 10:1-15

1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 

3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 

4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 

9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 

10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 

12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 

13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 

14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 

15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

Mission Accomplished

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  Matthew 10:16

Have you ever dreamed of being a super hero?  Someone who rescued lost and hurting people?  In today’s reading, Jesus is sending His disciples to rescue the lost sheep of Israel.  The passage doesn’t sound very encouraging because He tells the disciples they will be persecuted, delivered up to councils, scourged in their synagogues and brought before kings and governors.  He concludes by telling them they will be hated by all because of Jesus’ name, but to endure through it all to the end, then they will be saved.

This does not sound like good news, but if we look closely at the passage, there is a couple subtle words in His message to help them along the way.  First of all, He tells them that they are going out as sheep among wolves.  Even though this is a frightening picture, He tells them they can be smarter than the wolves and still be harmless as doves.  By their subtle clever methods, they will be able to gather some lost sheep without being noticed by those that may be watching.

Next, He tells them when they are brought before their persecutors, don’t worry about what to say because the Holy Spirit will speak in them.  Lastly, He assures them that the covered things will be revealed, and the hidden will be seen.  It will all become clear and plain to them.

My perception of Jesus sending the disciples has always been:  Why would they want to go after He tells them about all these bad things that could happen?  However, after reading it this morning, it reminds me of something out of a espionage movie.  There is a mission, if they choose to accept it, there will be dangers, but Jesus guarantees they will accomplish what they are sent to do if they stick with it to the end.  Having changed my perspective, it sounds pretty exciting!

So now comes the most exciting part!  You have been given a mission too!  If you choose to accept it, you can be guaranteed there will be troubles and dangers along the way.  It is an important mission intended to rescue many.   Stick with your mission and the One who sent you, then your mission will be accomplished and you will be able to retire/rest with Him in the end.

Today I want to encourage you to accept your mission.  Go before you Heavenly Father and tell Him you are ready to go.  Wait for your instructions and prepare for the dangers ahead.  Watch for the warning and be wise to the traps of your enemy.  Do not be afraid when you are confronted, the Holy Spirit, your divine Consultant, will give you the right responses.  Then endure, press on and continue until you have successfully rescued the ones assigned to you.  It will be exciting, and you will have some troubling times.  But it will all be worth it because it will be the greatest adventure you have ever been on and that is what this life is all about.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 10:16-26

16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 

17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 

18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 

19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 

20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

21 “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 

22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 

23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 

25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 

26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

Freely give

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.  Matthew 10:8

I’m sure we all remember the plans of our lives that got cut short in the year 2020.  As news of a pandemic pummeled our country and abruptly shut it down, many became paralyzed by fear.  Only a short time later, the entire nation was rocked in the upheaval of a race war.  Then came the climate disruptions all over the world.  Floods, cyclones, Hurricanes an wildfires closing in.  Right in the middle of this great worldwide turmoil, I was praying in a church service.  I asked the Lord: “Lord, the world is such a mess, how are we as believers and the body of Christ ever going to be able to make a difference in this chaos?  How are we going to bring your love to the world?”  I heard the answer in my heart almost immediately.  I know it wasn’t an audible voice, but if I had been alone, I might have thought it was.  It was probably the clearest and quickest answer I had even gotten in my life.  He said:

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give it to others!”  Wow!  I knew this was a scripture, so I immediately looked it up to see who had this direction in scripture.  Here it is in today’s text, Jesus, giving the authority to do these things, to His disciples.  Jesus told His disciples to reach the lost sheep of Israel by touching their infirmities in life.  If they are sick, give them health.  If they are diseased, give them cleansing. if they are dead, give them life.  They received these things freely and should give them to others freely, expecting nothing in return.

My heart felt hope almost immediately.  He was telling me; I could make a difference just by giving to others the things that I had already freely received from Him.  I have been given new life, I have been given forgiveness, I have been given freedom from my past and I have been given divine protection from harmful things around me.  I have been given the promises of God!  Now I freely give these to others every opportunity that He gives me.  It’s not that a make a public spectacle of myself to get the message of salvation out. But it is that I love people with the love that God my Father has given me.  If they need healing, I pray for them.  If they need financial help, I give to them or help them secure income.  If someone needs a place to stay, I invite them into my home.  Whatever the need, I do what I can to let them know they are important to me because they are important to God!

Today I want to encourage you to freely give what you have been freely given.  Don’t hold back because of fear that you will not have enough for your own needs.  Your heavenly Father knows what you have need of and takes care of you.  Be that disciple of Jesus that gives the love of God to everyone He brings into your world.  Let all other people know that they are valuable to you because they are valuable to God!

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 10:5-15

5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 

9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 

10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 

12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 

13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 

14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 

15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

He was called

Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.  Matthew 10:4

Today’s scripture says that Jesus called Judas to be one of His disciples.  Judas didn’t just sneak into the group and one day Jesus looked up and said, “Where did you come from?”  No, Jesus knew exactly who Judas was and even that he would one day betray Him.  However, Jesus didn’t change His plan because of what He knew about Judas.  The call on Judas’s life was there from the beginning and stayed there until the end.  If Judas had come back to Jesus or the other disciples after betraying Him and repent, he would have been forgiven just like we are today.  It doesn’t matter how many times we mess up or what we do, when we repent and turn away from sin, there is always forgiveness for us.

Today, every person has a call on their life, but not every person steps into that call.  Some get distracted and some think they aren’t good enough.  Some even think it is beneath them to step away from something they have done their entire adult life to step into God’s planned place for them.  The fact is, it is our responsibility as God’s family to seek out that place in the body where we belong.  Maybe it is where we are right now, but maybe it is some place else. The truth is that you can know and when you get into that place, because there is a grace that covers you that will not be evident anywhere else. (1Cor. 12:11)

The thing about Judas was that he was in his called place operating in his gift.  It would seem that it was a safe place, safe from temptation and safe from evil.  But sin came to him even there and it was able to knock him off the course of being one of the disciples that turned the world upside down after Jesus’ ascension into heaven. (Acts 17:6) 

This is what we need to be on guard against always even today.  The weights and sin that can knock us off course.  After we have pressed in and are led to our place of grace, it is still a place where you need to keep your relationship with your Heavenly Father intact.  In fact, you may need to step in a little closer to Him by spending quiet time and worshiping Him, to ensure that you do not get too busy for Him.  Your ministry can become hectic and take over the special time you once spent in His presence.  Then is where you will find yourself facing choices you never should have been exposed to in the first place.

Today I want to encourage you to seek out and follow Him to your called place.   Ask Him to make the path there plain and clear.  If you are already in that position, press into Him closer than you ever have before.  Use your free time to worship and talk with Him.  Don’t let the enemy lure you away with distractions like social media and even financial gain.  Trust God to empower you to be a force for the kingdom of Heaven within your call today. You won’t always do things perfectly, but when you do mess up, be quick to repent. Don’t take a detour because you are trying to fix a mess by yourself. Take it to your Father and He will turn that thing around and make it come out for good instead.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 10:1-4

1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 

3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 

4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

You are a laborer

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”  Matthew 9:37-38

Have you ever wondered how to pray for lost family and friends?  Have you ever prayed “Lord, save them, please” over and over again with no noticeable results?  In today’s scripture, Jesus tells us exactly how to pray for unsaved loved ones.  He says to pray to the LORD of the harvest to send out laborers.  So, your prayer for the lost could sound something like this:  Jesus, Lord of the harvest, send out laborers to my lost friend __________.  Send that one person across their path that they will hear and listen to.  Send those into their life that will love them into your Kingdom and if I am the one, show me how to love them in a way that they will want to step into a relationship with you.

Which brings me to my second point, you are a laborer.  Maybe you are not the one that can reach you friend or family member, but you can be a laborer that someone else is praying for.  Pray the Lord of the harvest to send you to people who others are praying for their salvation.  Pray for those you can love, encourage and lead into the Kingdom of heaven.  Ask Him to keep you aware of those in need of help and prayer.  We are all here to help each other out, so always be looking for people, you can reach out to because someone is praying for them somewhere.

Today I want to encourage you to remember as you go into your day that you are a laborer.  Labor together with the prayers of your brothers and sisters in the Lord.  Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborer to reach into the lives of your loved ones, and pray for yourself to be a laborer to reach the loved ones of others.  The harvest truly is plenteous, but we are the laborer who need to go out there and bring them in.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 9:27-38

27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this? ”They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” 

30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” 

31 But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.

32 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. 

33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!”

34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 

36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 

37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 

38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”