This past year I celebrated what I believe to be my 45th year of working my way through the Scriptures. I feel it is so important to continue this annual habit of "praying my way through the Bible" each year.
Let me first comment on the habit itself. As I reflect on my journey in Jesus, I can say with certainty that this specific habit is, by far, one of the most significant decisions I've made since becoming a follower of Jesus. Of course, there was another vital decision made during those same early years—that of keeping an appointment to meet with Jesus in prayer for at least one uninterrupted hour each day.
What I've learned over all these years of meeting the Lord daily in His Word is that there is always fresh "manna" on every page of the Bible for each and every day. In the past few days, for example, I found myself growing concerned that we, as believers, not become like the world in our work, even if we are convinced that what we are doing is fully focused on taking the Gospel to people who have never once heard it.
This week in my daily prayer time I came across the passage in the Gospels where Jesus was selecting His disciples (Matthew 10). Because I've been reading from The Message Bible for several years now, I will highlight thoughts from this particular translation.
Chapter 10 of Matthew in The Message begins ..."Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives."
Following this introduction to the chapter, Jesus names those He has chosen. My first impression regarding this calling is that everywhere we go the fields are ripe. That means we should anticipate a "daily" harvest. Then, when it comes to dealing with "evil" the Lord is pretty ruthless. He says "kick" it out.
Notice He doesn't suggest that the disciples "tenderly" kick out the evil. What He says implies force. We must never tolerate any form of sin in the camp. However, when it comes to handling those who are hurting and bruised, we are to carry out this assignment "tenderly." Of course, sometimes those who are living in sin are doing so because they have been bruised and are hurting. That's why we need much discernment in handling such matters as we do the Lord's work.
But there is more to what I saw regarding Christ's calling of the 12 as He launched the work that we are continuing on so many fronts around the world. Notice especially these words (vs. 5-8): "Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge … Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously so live generously."
When I read these particular words I recall hearing about a young preacher just out of Bible school. This man was trying to model his favorite preacher, many years his senior, who preached with unusual authority and unction. The young preacher's sermon was centered around the calling of the 12 from Matthew 10. With all the authority he could muster, the novice preacher declared: "Today the calling of Jesus is just as true." He then shouted enthusiastically: "We must heal the demons, cast out the sick, and raise the devil!" (I think I've made a few mistakes like that during my preaching over the years.)
But it's the following admonition of Jesus that I wish to highlight here (vs. 9-10). He says, "Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light."
We must not let "things" bog us down in life and ministry. So I'll say it again--"Travel light."
"When we work, we work.
When we pray, God works!"
--J. Hudson Taylor
By Dick Eastman