Monday 29 Apr 2013

Monday Reading: Luke 9:1-5

Key Verse: Luke 9:4
4  And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

Devotion:
Yes, same verses today again, but a continuation on what Christ was saying to the disciples. We are not given these same instructions today because we are not going throughout the land of Judea and teaching to the Jews; instead we are given the same task but to go out and teach and preach to everyone that is willing to listen. We are going to be faced with many people who will try to rise up against us, try to stop us from preaching and even some that may act to take our lives just because we dare to tell them about Christ – but God wants us to go out and tell others about Him.

We still have that same pot of gold to rely on – you know, that invisible one that is imaginary! Of course we don’t have a pot of gold to go out and spend as we give people the truth about God! Instead we have to rely on those around us to allow us to spread the gospel. We will come up against people that will try to stop us and we will come up against organisations, groups and even governments who will try to prevent us from telling others about Christ – but go we must.

There are always people out there who will be willing to stop and listen – they may be very few and far between in some places of the countries that we live in, but they are there. God gave instructions to the disciples to see who was willing to allow them to teach and to then rely on them for support. If they are serious about wanting to learn then they are going to want to help you to deliver that gospel. Those are the people that we should be willing to teach openly and to only leave when we are sure that they have learned enough to get them grounded and ready to go out themselves.

It is no small thing that Christ has told us all to go out with the gospel. It is no small thing that He started out by telling the disciples to take that gospel. It may seem like a small thing that Christ gave instruction to stay in one place until He is ready to move us on, but it is not! God wants us to make sure that the seeds that we plant are going to germinate, have a chance at sprouting and given enough to start a firm growth before we leave them to fend for themselves. God wants His word to be heard and understood. He wants His word to make a difference – and we are the ones who have to spend time making sure. Yes God will be the one to change their hearts and their minds, but He needs us there teaching whilst the world battles against that teaching otherwise it may go unnoticed.

Points to Ponder:
Do you listen to everything first time?

How many times must God tell you things before you listen?