Jesus calls us to trust him and his plan for us.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick
–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
We would always rather have the full contingency plan. We want food, sack, money in our belts, in case we end up in one town after another that does not welcome us. Even when we do put some initial trust in Jesus we may become overly eager that things work out a certain way. We may want so much to be welcomed by a place that we alter the message we came to bring. We really want to get into those towns and stay in the houses there. We become less concerned about the message and more concerned about taking care of ourselves. The message becomes adaptable. Or perhaps we are so convinced that it is our job to save a given town that we don't take it well when we aren't welcome. Jesus is clear. The ball is in their court. We present the truth clearly and unaltered. They are free to accept or to reject us.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them.
This is a challenge because we aren't just proclaiming fluff that is of no consequence. There is a hard truth to be proclaimed.
Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways
and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees
as they are written in the law of Moses,
that you may succeed in whatever you do,
wherever you turn, and the LORD may fulfill
the promise
But there is hope built into the truth. There is a promise here. If what we hear and proclaim is merely words we will end in despair. No one is able to do this on their own. But the words we speak come from God. They have the power to enable what they command. Accepting the words is accepting the authority of the one who first speaks them.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.
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