Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year Lent 2018 | Page 24

Within Your Community
Sunday, March 4th
Matthew 10:16
Talking to other people about Jesus isn’t always easy. Even Jesus himself understood how challenging
this would be for his own disciples. He spends nearly all of Matthew Chapter 10 giving the disciples
detailed instructions about what to say and why their message was so important for people in their
community to hear. Jesus realized his disciples would be giving up their physical and spiritual sense of
security, but it was time for them to transition from being disciples (followers) to being leaders in
sharing the gospel with their Israelite neighbors.
But this would not be an easy task for the disciples. When Jesus tells them “I am sending you out like
sheep among wolves,” I am guessing he knew their thoughts and feelings as they were preparing for
their mission. They were likely afraid and maybe even hesitant to believe that anyone would really
listen to what they had to say. They were just uneducated, seemingly unqualified, often faith-lacking
followers. He even warns them that there would, in fact, be people who would not welcome them or
listen to their message; some would even be arrested and flogged by government officials.
Jesus has given all of us the same commission he gave to the disciples in Matthew Chapter 10. We are
to spread the message of salvation to the lost sheep of (insert your city or town), but that task can seem
daunting if our focus is on only the worldly wolves. People won’t listen to me; I’m just a (insert your
excuse). What if people, even my friends, make fun of me for being a Christian? Sharing the gospel is
more of a pastor’s job.
Despite the dangers, the disciples boldly preached throughout Israel because their focus was not on the
words “like sheep among wolves”; but on the assurance “I (Jesus...the Son of God...King of Kings...Lord
Almighty...) am sending you out.” They understood that the One sending them was greater than their
sense of security.
Like he did with his twelve disciples, Jesus needs you to give up your sense of security in your
community. Whether you are reading this in an urban apartment or in a rural village, you know people
around you who urgently need to hear about their loving, forgiving Savior, the one who longs to spend
eternity with them in heaven. Is there a better time to do this than during the Lent/Easter season?!
While the task may not be easy, Jesus assures you that He is sending you out with His message. So give
up your sense of security and your hesitation and start sharing the Easter message in your community!
Prayer: Dear Jesus, This world needs to hear about your love. Thank you for assuring me that I have
the greatest message to share with my community. Forgive me for times when I make excuses and am
even ashamed to share my faith with others. Through the Holy Spirit, empower me to give up my sense
of security and be a bold ambassador for you. Amen!
Activity: Make a list of specific people in your community that you can invite to your church’s Easter
service.
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