JESUS ​​CALLS AND SENDS HIS DISCIPLES (PART-2)

THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020

HOSEA 11: 1b, 3-4,8c-9 

I will not carry out my fiery anger, nor will I destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I did not come to scorch. 

PSALM 80: 2-3,15-16 

O shepherd of Israel, listen to the ear, you who lead Joseph as a flock of sheep! O you who sit on the cherubim, appear to shine before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh! Awaken Your might and come to save us.  

MATTHEW 10: 7-15 

Jesus advised the disciples who would be sent to preach the gospel and to cure all kinds of diseases. 

REFLECTION 

There are many things that need to be prepared to carry out missionary tasks, like Jesus preparing His disciples. 

First 

Do not carry gold or silver or copper in your belt (Matthew 10: 9). 

Gold, silver, copper are valuable items of high value and many people make it a guarantee of life. 

Jesus wants His disciples not to rely on gold, silver, and copper but to rely on God. 

Second 

You must not bring provisions on the journey, you must not bring clothes with two strands, sandals or walking sticks, for a worker deserves his reward (Matthew 10:10). 

Jesus wanted His disciples not to worry about money because God would provide for the necessities of life while carrying out missionary duties. 

We also need to prepare ourselves physically and mentally as disciples of Jesus when doing mission and ministry. 

We must rely on God, not the power of this world's power which is often proven to disrupt service. 

Note the source of the problem of commotion or quarreling which causes division in general due to not relying on the power of God but relying on the power of money, connections, conflicts of personal interests, etc. 

Often the motivation and purpose of service are tainted by ambition and self-interest when it should be solely for the benefit of others we serve or the interests of many people so that they experience God's love through the intercession of our ministry. 

Also in the case of preaching the gospel, often tainted by the desire to get stipendium money and pursue praise to increase self-popularity. 

In terms of money , 

Act as a soldier who struggles so that the preaching of the gospel can reach many believers in Jesus and do not worry about the needs of life because God provides what we need for life and for the purposes of service. 

2 Timothy 2: 4 

A soldier who is struggling does not confuse himself with matters of his livelihood, so that he pleases his commander. 

In terms of praise and popularity 

Remember the advice Jesus said: 

Matthew 6: 1 

Remember, do not carry out your religious obligations before people to be seen by them, because if so, you do not get a reward from your Father in heaven. 

Why seek the praise of others for the service we do if Father in Heaven is not acceptable. 

Yet other people's praise is only on the lips, only limited to the formality of the relationship and are often not sincere, there are even tucked to drop us. 

The Word of God says what we do after we finish the ministry: 

Luke 17:10 

Likewise you. When you have done everything that is assigned to you, you should say: We are useless servants; we just do what we have to do. 

Greetings, 

Surya Darma