Matthew 10

Today’s passage, Matthew 10: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2010&version=NIV

In the end of chapter 9, Jesus encouraged the disciples to pray: “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Today’s passage opens with God’s answer to their prayers - the disciples would be the workers that would harvest the field. In Chapter 10, Jesus ordains the disciples and gives them specific instructions regarding their commission.

You might be thinking – well I’m no apostle, so I don’t know how this passage can be useful to me. But as a Christian, don't you have a desire for others to be saved? Charles Spurgeon said "“Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.” It's a natural result of salvation to want to share the message of love and grace so that others can join us in God's kingdom! We all become ministers of Christ, therefore, we too can learn from this commissioning.

I think the most important lesson from this ordination lies in what occurred leading up to it. Before Jesus ordained the disciples he developed a relationship with them and he equipped them. He armed them with faith through the miracles they witnessed. He infused them with a passion for love as they witnessed the love and grace that he poured out upon the people of the land. He built in them a respect for his authority to forgive sins. He endowed them with knowledge of the mysteries of God’s word. He taught them privately and through his public sermons about the kingdom of heaven. Through constant and direct access to Jesus Christ, they were equipped with everything they needed to fulfill their commission.

As ministers of Christ, we are equipped in much the same way. We have direct access to our precious King through prayer. We have the opportunity to witness the miracles of God through His Word. We have access to scripture that reveals the love and grace and mercy of our God who sent a Savior to redeem us. Through spending time in the word of God and in prayer and worship, we become equipped with all that we need to share the good news of our Savior with others.

Most importantly, in commissioning his apostles, he equipped them with his power. He gave them the ability to heal physical and spiritual illnesses and the ability to cast out demons. He also empowered them with the “Spirit of the Father” who would give them words to speak.

As ministers of Christ, we have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. The moment you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and turned your life over to Him, you were indwelt with the Holy Spirit. His power lies inside of you and has been given to you so that you can live a godly life and be a minister of Christ. (1 Cor 3:16 & 2 Peter 1:3).

All these gifts of knowledge and power that God gives is pointless unless we build a relationship with Him. Jesus was able to ordain his disciples because they had developed a relationship of love, faith and respect. The disciples had a desire to be used by God as his apostles and they took an active part in learning who God is and what He is all about. In order for God to use us, we must do the same. We have to trust that he will equip us and allow Him to develop our gifts in us. We have to take part in learning who God is and what He is all about so that we can share that wonderful news with others. I encourage you to persevere in your reading of God’s word. Be intentional about making time to build a relationship with God and learn about who He is. If you don’t know who He is, how can you share with others? Allow God to equip you so that you can influence the population of the Kingdom of God!



Todays post submitted by Kelly Coxe