eFollowingJesusFeb7 - Sent into the World (Matthew 10:1-22)

   Jesus gave his disciples authority to do startling things - to continue what Jesus began.  We are sent to be (literally) the body of Christ, his hands and feet on earth.  We have authority when we stick close to what he was about; we fritter that authority away when we hatch plans of our own making.

   They were sent with no possessions, no budget, no support; they were totally dependent upon God.  St. Francis took this literally, becoming poor to reach the poor, trusting God fully for whatever was needed.  But most often the Church has relied on buildings, playing it safe, being sure we have backup provisions; perhaps this is why we limp along as a pale imitation of what we could be.

   Following Jesus will be hard.  But everything we've ever done in life that is meaningful was hard.  Whatever is easy is trivial; when we struggle, when we barely hang on, when we didn't think we'd get there, when we had to count on each other, when we dared the impossible, deep meaning was discovered.

   Lord, send me.  Give me authority.  I promise not to squander it by playing it safe.  I know it will be hard - and thank You for that.

James

james@mpumc.org

Here is the full text of Matthew 10:1-22 -   1: And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. 2: 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 Thaddaeus; 4: Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5: These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7: And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8: Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay. 9: Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, 10: no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. 11: And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. 12: As you enter the house, salute it. 13: And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14: And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15: Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. 16: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17: Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18: and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19: When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20: for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21: Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them 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.

The full eFollowingJesus series (thus far!) may be found on our web site.