Key Thought

Decisions have consequences. The truth of the Scriptures reminds us that what we do with Jesus matters eternally. While those who share the good news may sometimes be rejected and mistreated, they need to remember that they go in the name of, with the blessing of, and under the authority of Jesus himself. When they go, they take the good news of Jesus and the blessing of God. But if people reject that message, they must know that their decision has consequences. One of those consequences is to lose the Lord's blessing and his messenger from their lives. There are too many open fields for disciples to get bogged down in fruitless and hopeless ones. They can leave, trusting that the Holy Spirit will use the message they shared even when that message is rejected. In the mean time, they can take their blessing to others.

Today's Prayer

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Holy and righteous Father, please give me wisdom to see those in my daily path that you have placed there for me to influence. Give me words to say, a heart to hear, and insight to respond. Use me as your vessel to reach others with your grace and love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Jesus gave these twelve apostles some orders. Then he sent them {to tell people about the kingdom}. Jesus said, "Don't go to the non-Jewish people. And don't go into any town where the Samaritans live. But go to the people of Israel (the Jews). They are like sheep that are lost. When you go, tell them this: 'The kingdom of heaven is coming soon.' Heal sick people. Give dead people life again. Heal those people that have leprosy. Force demons to leave people. I give you these powers freely. So help other people freely. Don't carry any money with you--gold or silver or copper. Don't carry a bag. Take for your trip only the clothes and shoes you are wearing. Don't take a walking stick. A worker should be given the things he needs. "When you enter a city or town, find some worthy person there and stay in his home until you leave. When you enter that home say, 'Peace be with you.' If the people in that home welcome you, then they are worthy of your peace. May they have the peace you wished them. But if the people don't welcome you, then they are not worthy of your peace. Take back the peace you wished for them. And if a home or town refuses to welcome you or listen to you, then leave that place. Shake their dust off your feet. I tell you the truth. On the judgment day it will be worse for that town than for the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah. "Listen! I am sending you, and you will be like sheep among wolves. So be smart like snakes. But also be like doves and do nothing wrong. Be careful of people. They will arrest you and take you to be judged. They will whip you in their synagogues. You will be taken to stand before governors and kings. People will do this to you because of me. You will tell about me to those kings and governors and to the non-Jewish people. When you are arrested, don't worry about what to say or how you should say it. At that time you will be given the things to say. It will not really be you speaking. The Spirit of your Father will be speaking throughyou. "Brothers will turn against their own brothers and give them to be killed. Fathers will turn against their own children and give them to be killed. Children will fight against their own parents and will send their parents to be killed. All people will hate you because you follow me. But the person that continues strong until the end will be saved. When you are treated badly in one city, go to another city. I tell you the truth. You will not finish going to all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes again. "A student is not better than his teacher. A servant is not better than his master. A student should be satisfied to become like his teacher. A servant should be satisfied to become like his master. If the head of the family is called Beelzebul (the devil), then the other members of the family will be called worse names!

— Matthew 10:5-25 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.