FREELY GIVEN

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.”
Matthew 10:8b-10
These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.”

Mark 6:8-9

He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.”

Luke 9:3
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
In yesterday’s devotion, we found Jesus giving His twelve chosen disciples the power and authority to go and do what He was calling them to do.

Question: How much did Jesus charge the disciples to receive His power?

If you answered nothing, you would be correct for what Jesus gave the twelve was freely given as He dispatched them to go “to the lost sheep of Israel”, preach that the “kingdom of heaven” near, “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy”, and “drive out demons”.
Now this was far from a small undertaking, wouldn’t you agree? Wouldn’t it be proper for the disciples to receive some sort of compensation for the work they would do?

More on that later but I think we can agree that the world Jesus entered into was a world full of problems. People were not only physically ill but mentally and spiritually as well. Many were in need of something greater than themselves to get well and they were provided something greater in the way of Jesus who possessed the very power of God within.
Now if you went to the doctor today because you were sick in some way, you would get help but it wouldn’t come without a cost. No, typically you will have to pay for the care you need and depending on the gravity of the affliction, sometimes pay a lot.

Question: How much did Jesus charge those He treated?  
That’s right. He didn’t charge a thing.

Jesus didn’t tell the leper that He would make him better for a standard charge of $2,500. He didn’t tell the blind that restoring sight would cost $20,000. And resurrection? Now that might have been the most expensive action of all but Jesus charged nothing. Nothing to bring a person to new life.

Just as He does today, Jesus saves at no charge. All He did and still does is freely given.

This was what He expected of His disciples as well as they were given His power to go forth and carry out His assignments. They had freely received what He had given them and so they were in turn to freely give to others. That was the deal.

And they were to go with just the bare necessities, just as Jesus did. Jesus didn’t drag a suitcase along with Him everywhere He went with extra garments or money and yet He was provided for most everywhere He went, greeted with hospitality and the care of those He helped who freely gave to Jesus, just as they had freely received what He had provided. Jesus knew the disciples would be treated likewise if they just remained obedient to His calling, using the power and authority He had vested in them.

Question: How do we conduct ourselves in ministry today as we go to answer Jesus’ calling?

We have freely received His Holy Spirit and Holy Word to guide and direct us toward His purposes. He has freely given us everything we need to carry out His work and not charged us a cent.

Now it’s up to us to use the blessings we have freely received from Him and freely give to others, obedient to His calling. It’s time for us to go where Jesus leads and partner with Him to help others come to know and trust In Him as Savior.

Friends, in a prior devotion we read the words of Jesus which told His followers (and us today) that the harvest fields are ripe for the harvest but the workers were (and are) few.

Why this problem?

Because too many people have freely received what Jesus has freely given and then not given back freely in return. It’s as simple as that.

Frankly, there’s too much at stake for us to just stand on the sidelines for the souls of the lost, those who are like sheep wandering without a shepherd, will remain that way unless they hear the Gospel and receive Jesus as not only their Good Shepherd (John 10) but their Savior (John 3:16).

Christians, it’s time to get to work and freely give our time toward the cause of Christ who not only has freely given us all we need but freely gave up His life on the cross so we could have life and have it abundantly, not just now but forever.  
That’s just the kind of good news this hurting and afflicted world needs to hear.

Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com