Jesus went about the cities and the
villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom,
and healing every disease and sickness among the people. When he saw the
crowds, he was moved with compassion, because they were harassed and helpless,
like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest
is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send
out more workers.”
He called to himself his twelve
disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and
to heal every disease and sickness. He told them, “Don’t go among the
Gentiles or enter into any city of the Samaritans, but go to the lost sheep of
the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of God is at
hand!’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out evil spirits. Give
freely because you received freely. Don’t take any gold, silver, or brass
in your money belts. Take no bag for your journey, neither two
coats, nor shoes, nor staff, for the laborer is worthy to be paid. In
whatever city or village you enter, find out who is worthy and stay with them.
As you enter a home, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace
come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you. Whoever
doesn’t receive you or hear your words, as you go out of that house or city,
shake off the dust from your feet. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for
the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that city.
We live in an age in which fewer and fewer are interested in
church and yet there is no shortage of people who could be described as
“harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” How many of your
friends and family think of themselves as living the good life? How many could
be described as living lives of quiet desperation? Do you feel any sense of
being called to bring them hope?
Prayer: Send forth workers, Lord, and make it clear if I’m to
be one of them.
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