When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. Luke 9:1-6
Now, as then, the followers of Jesus do the kinds of things that Jesus Himself does. And they receive the same kind of mixed reception.
You are on a mission, the mission of Jesus. The goal is to bring the good news of the kingdom into the lives of, well, everyone: as the text says, “people everywhere.”
It’s not a mission that requires a lot of packing. But it does require an attitude that receives help where help is offered and moves on when there is no welcome. Your job is not to make the mission work; your job is to bring the words of Jesus to people who will hear, and leave the people who refuse to hear for another person at another time.
So what keeps you from sharing kingdom words, Jesus words with people in your life? Fear you aren’t prepared enough? Jesus said, don’t worry about preparing; just go. Fear you will be rejected? Jesus said, don’t worry about being rejected; just move on. Fear of failure? Jesus gives His followers (this means you) His own power and authority. Let Jesus worry about success or failure; you go and make the kingdom present in your talking and your doing.
The mission of Jesus continues in and through the followers He sends.
We pray: Jesus, be with me as I go out on Your mission today. I confess I am often reluctant to speak. I confess I am often afraid of failure or rejection. Focus my eyes on your love for me and for the people in my life so I can speak to those who will listen, and leave those who won’t listen in Your hands. Amen.
