Corona Devo 191

 Please do not forget that we are "sent".  

We are not here on earth to be self-focused and absorbed bumps-on-a-log.  We were each born with a purpose and we were created by a purposeful Creator to spread the Word about how great God is!  He changes lives.  He changes moods.  He changes families and He changes individuals.  If He has changed you, then God has a message for us:

5 Jesus sent out the...apostles with these instructions:... 6 "but (go) only to...God’s lost sheep. ~Matthew 10:5-6

Please don't get tripped up by the word "apostles".  That means us.  No, seriously, it does.  The twelve that Jesus was addressing in this speech were his hand-selected apostles, or disciples, but they were our predecessors.  Our "big brothers in the faith", if you will, and just as Jesus commissioned them to get out and pound the pavement for Him, He has hand-selected us to share the exact same message.

When Jesus says "go", I am pretty sure that He doesn't mean have coffee with our friends from church to catch up on life and close with a little prayer.  He doesn't mean have a cook-out with friends that look like us, believe like us and worship like us.  Jesus says to "go" to God’s lost sheep.  Lord, open our eyes and our hearts to see your lost sheep around us.  Embolden us to get out of our safe and comfortable zones so that we can move into zones where Your lost sheep are waiting to meet the Shepherd.  We can introduce people to You, by going to Your lost sheep: in our families, our neighborhoods and our lives.  

7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. ~Matthew 10:7-8

Announcing that the Kingdom of Heaven is near is not as intimidating as it sounds. It can be as easy as sharing what God has done in your life today, or this week.  A lesson you have learned, or a blessing you have experienced.  Corona has soured many people.  What if we used Corona as a platform for sharing what sweet things we have seen God do during this unprecedented time in our lives, or around us (or IN us!)? 

...Give as freely as you have received! ~Matthew 10:8

Have you ever really grasped how much God forgave you of?  It levels me when I allow the realization to permeate my soul.  We are so sinful.  We are so far from being worthy of God's forgiveness, and yet, God gives it to us freely.  He loves us freely, and without condition.  Truly absorbing that into your mind and heart changes everything.  It can change how we view ourselves: we are forgiven!  And it should also change how we view others: no one is beneath us, more sinful than us, or unworthy of God's love and forgiveness.  It is not possible or true.  We have been loved/accepted/forgiven freely from the Lord, and this is exactly how we should give to others (freely!).  

12 When you enter the home, give it your blessing. 13 If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. 14 If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. 15 I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.  ~Matthew 10:12-15

I feel these verses encourage wisdom and discernment in our lives and our relationships.  God and His law are the backbone of our daily decisions and beliefs.  The world and our emotions offer many opinions and interpretations, but God sets our standard, if we call ourselves Jesus-Followers.  

We must have our eyes open and hearts on alert.  If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave (Matthew 10:14).  God absolutely commissions us to bring His word and love to lost sheep, but the acceptance of Jesus is up to them.  We can't change anyone, and I appreciate the sense of relief and lack-of-blame that this verse gives to us as we share about Jesus.  If people don't have ears to hear or eyes to see, (or softened hearts) then we needn't own that burden.  The Lord gives us permission to shake (the) dust from your feet as you leave.

16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves... 19 ...don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. 20 For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  ~Matthew 10:16, 19-20

Unfortunately, Jesus warns us that bringing His word to our neighbors, families and friends will not be easy.  Have you tried?  He is not wrong.  

But God also promises us that when we need the "right" words to say about Him, he will give them to us, in fact, He says that He will speak through us.  Now that is powerful.  To think about, and also to experience.  But we can only experience the Holy Spirit speaking through us if we begin to open our mouths.

Please do not forget that we are "sent".  

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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