
Matthew 10:5–15 contains Jesus' instructions for His twelve apostles, for their missionary trip to the towns of Galilee, in northern Israel. Their mission will be to preach His message that the kingdom of heaven is near, while also healing people and casting out demons. The apostles must not take with them extra money or clothes. Instead, they will stay with those who are worthy in each town they visit. If nobody in a town believes their message, the disciples are to shake the dust of that town from their feet. Jesus will follow these instructions with a series of warnings and encouragements.
This continues a very thorough set of instructions for the Twelve, the hand-picked apostles of Jesus Christ. He is sending them out into Galilee, and only to the people if Israel, for now (Matthew 10:1–6). There, they will do the work they have seen Him doing since each of them began to follow Him.
Now Jesus tells them what they should say to the people of Israel. The message He gives them is the same one proclaimed by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:2), and the lesson Jesus Himself declared (John 4:17). Both John the Baptist and Jesus began that message with the word "repent," and the same is implied here.
In short, the disciples were to go out and tell people that Jesus was the Messiah, the promised King of Israel. His kingdom was near, because He was on the earth now. The time had come for the people to put their faith in the Christ in order to be welcomed into His kingdom. Nobody understood, yet, that the kingdom would begin not with the overthrow of the Romans but with Jesus' death for the sins of humanity and His defeat of death in the resurrection.
God is the gifter and provider of all our talents, and gifts, as he is our creator. He calls -us- to use those gifts to minister his message, than freedom, peace, jor, deliverance, all belongs in Christ.
When he gifts people for a calling, God rewards the faithful who accept his calling, even if it takes preserverende, we know that ultimately, our treasures are given to us, most certainly in the age to come by following his call to use the gifts and talents he predestined you with, to glorify him and his sacrifice, than you and i, are given eternal life through the Sacrifice he made on our behalf. God especially calls to those he called as separate, unique, chosen, he calls them to a higher purpose, In the beginning of my journey, the hardest part was identifying this kingdom and the kingdom to come. It's hard for us, as human beings, to comprehend this existence as being temporary. How could it Not? Unless, perhaps, we have been given reason to believe otherwise? What I have learned, as it was spoken, is that the more time spent in his word, the more faithful he becomes.
It's not always easy-usually, it's not! Ever! It's tough. it's not seamless.
God promised hills and valleys. Once we trust that his word is true, which it is, then perhaps- we can trust his plan, too.
And what happiness that may bring?
The joy and glory of the promises of the world to come!
It's clearly given.
His promises are sure.
The horizon is like a rainbow,
God's promise-
it comes right after the storm,
There may be a few storms, maybe God is refining us. I promise, if you cling to his word, he will not forsake you, it's really the only thing he asks of you.
STAY STRONG!