Sunday, May 20, 2012

Jesus' Ministry Handbook


I've been with people a lot this weekend and it's left me so tired.  And when I'm tired it's easy to feel overwhelmed by questions about my Operation Christmas Child life--Just when will God answer my prayers for key coordinators on my team?  When will He provide the thousands of items we need for our boxes?  Where will we get 16,000 more stuffed animals?

But I'm remembering what God showed me this week in Matthew 10.  This 10th chapter of Matthew is really a ministry handbook that Jesus gave to His disciples when He sent them out.

It doesn't paint a very pretty picture of ministry either.  It talks about going out with no provisions and what to do when people reject you (as though that's a given.)  Jesus tells them they'll be persecuted and arrested and betrayed--even by their families because, after all, "a servant is not above his master" and all these things happened or will soon happen to Jesus.

But then He gives them this great hope in vs. 26-31
Matthew 10:26-31

New International Version (NIV)
26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Three times in these verses Jesus commands them NOT to be afraid--1) don't be afraid of the darkness and proclaim the truth boldly 2) don't be afraid of losing your physical life--be concerned for your soul  3) don't be afraid of being needy or alone because God cares and He will keep you in His will.


So no matter how tired I am and no matter how many unknowns there are, I'm going to keep reminding myself not to be afraid because my Father cares and He has it covered


And that's the best instruction for ministry of all.

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