Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people. And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick — no food, no traveler's bag, no money. He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.
"Wherever you go," he said, "stay in the same house until you leave town. But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate."
Key Thought
After witnessing Jesus' experience in Nazareth (in the preceding verses), his disciples knew that not everyone would welcome their Master, much less his teaching. They were under no delusions. If they had any remaining doubts that they would meet resistance and rejection, his directions to them made it clear that they would. He told them what they were to take with them on their mission, how they were to conduct themselves, and what they were to do when their message was not received. However, their message was a vital one. They warned the people about the importance of turning from their sins. They displayed Jesus' power over the demonic world. They blessed many with healing. In other words, they extended their Master's message to many more people than Jesus could reach by himself. However, when they were rejected, they were to move on and do God's work where it was more warmly received, not wasting their time trying to convince those who would not believe.
Today's Prayer
O Lord God Almighty, thank you for your grace. Thank you for your mercy. Thank you for your Good News. Please help me not to take rejection of your message by others personally. Instead, dear Father, please use me to help others understand that they are making a decision about their lives, their sins, their eternal destiny, and the source of their grace. When rejection comes, help me to move on and trust that the seeds of grace that have been planted may germinate at some other time, but that there are others who need your message now and are ready to hear it and need me to move on and find them. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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About This Devotional
What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.
What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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