Topic: Instructions for Serving

In chapter ten of Matthew’s gospel, we are given an account of the first mission experience the disciples had. Jesus had been with the twelve disciples for about a year and now He was sending them out on their first mission trip. Jesus sent them out in pairs and with the following instructions found in verses 5-8:

“These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

We must understand that the message of the kingdom was infinitely more important than the miracles. As wonderful as those miracles were, they were only temporary. The kingdom of heaven lasts forever! The miracles were given to prove the truth of their message.

Jesus told His apostles, "As you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" Of course, all of us are not called to be preachers, but all of us are called to be “reachers.” All of us are called to do everything we possibly can to help reach more people for Jesus Christ. He is our King! Our King wants us to let people know that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

In the first instructions there was a restriction, “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles…” (vs. 5). The restriction was not permanent, for Jesus will lift the restriction in Matthew 28 with the giving of the great commission, “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations…” (28:19). In this first commission, the disciples were sent out to preach to people they would identify with and people who had already heard Jesus. This goes back to Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus had compassion for the Jews and saw their need for a shepherd. Chapter ten then follows with a call for the disciples to also preach the kingdom of God to the same people Jesus saw as shepherdless and hearts ripe for a harvest.

Jesus gave them specific plans for a specific moment in their life, and He does the same for us. Jesus has a specific plan for your service. We will always find the basic principles in God's Word. The Lord will reveal the specifics to us as we prayerfully seek and follow His will.

Never underestimate what God can do through you when you follow His plan for your life! Even small things can make a giant difference forever.

See you Sunday!

Dr. Scott Kallem