Three hard sayings

The three hard sayings in being sent forth to minister

Mark 6:7-10
"And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; "

This is the only sentence of this passage that I rejoice in hearing or following.

The promise He would place a friend of faith in my life to cheer us, help us, and travel with us. God will always put a Jonathan in David's life.

He also promised victory over the plans and tactics of Hell.
Thank God for these great promises!

But the rest of this passage I struggle with:

"And commanded them ...
that they should take nothing for their journey,
save a staff only;
no scrip,
no bread,
no money in their purse:
But be shod with sandals;
and not put on two coats."

Gods command to go, is often a call to leave before you feel you are adequately ready.

Here's a very uncomfortable truth,
If you wait until you feel you are completely ready, you will probably never start.

Moses complaint was "I can't speak"
He didn't feel like he was ready to lead Gods people.

Ready or not, you have been called to ministry

As I survey this list of qualifications, my first inclination is to say they are not ready to go anywhere.

If a young man approached his pastor and said; "I have no money, no food and no places lined up. Will you bless me and send me out? "

He would be more than likely, laughed right out of his pastors office.

Yet that is precisely how Jesus sent out his young men

The "no money in your wallet" and the "no bread" are the two that cause me the most pause.

They were to completely trust God for their daily provisions.

Does anyone but me see how far we are from this scripture?

We plan and plan, Prepare and prepare ...
And often end up doing very little work in the Kingdom.

Why? ... Because we don't feel like we are quite ready.

"And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place."

Gods command here was two fold;
to stay where you are until he opens another door, and
to be willing to let go and move on when he calls us to leave.

This is the third difficult command in going into ministery.

The Command to, "Love them and leavening them."

When you are willing to love them and leave them;
you motive for ministry is souls rather than personal kingdom.

I personally can by faith, except the first two easier than I can this last one.

Ambition and the desire for stability are two of the greatest enemies of God truely sending us into the harvest.


This was a part of my morning devotions over the past two days, I pray it challenges you as it has me, to allow the master to send you forth into the harvest.


" the harvest is great, but the labours are few"

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.... And he said, Go,"





Lm
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