Let it grow through testing it
September 29, 2011 (Thursday)
Jesus chose 12 disciples and they went with him everywhere he preached and healed people. After allowing them to observe him for a while, he sent them out on their own, two by two. We have an account of this in Matthew, Mark and Luke. We are studying Mark on Wednesday evenings at Bethel Baptist Church, so let’s let our Bible verses be found in Mark 6.
Jesus tells them to follow this procedure in each community: stay in the first home where the people accept your message (and, presumably, invite you to stay). In other words, don’t “shop around” for the nicest and most comfortable places. Accepting the hospitality of new believers will strengthen the beliefs of the missionaries. At the end of each day, the apostles will give special attention to answering the inquiries of the new believers about their faith, and the work of the Lord will prosper.
Jesus instructs them to pack as little as possible. The natural thing for us to do when going on a trip is to pack our luggage, to carry along whatever we will need for several days, but Jesus tells them to avoid that temptation. They will be able to go wherever they are needed, unencumbered, when they do it his way. Their faith will be challenged, because they will have to depend upon the Lord for their daily provisions. When their service tour is done, they will return with stronger faith.
The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is at its best when it is totally dependent on the Lord. If she gets to the place where she can say, “I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing,” she is on dangerous ground and is tempted to trust the Lord less and her material resources more.
The apostles were blessed by their adventure of faith, and everyone they helped were blessed also. The faith way is the best way: “one day at a time.”